Synonyms

enforce

American

[en-fawrs, -fohrs] / ɛnˈfɔrs, -ˈfoʊrs /

verb (used with object)

to put or keep in force; compel obedience to.

to enforce a rule; Traffic laws will be strictly enforced.

Synonyms:

apply, execute, impose, administer
to obtain (payment, obedience, etc.) by force or compulsion.
to impose (a course of action) upon a person.

The doctor enforced a strict dietary regimen.
to support (a demand, claim, etc.) by force.

to enforce one's rights as a citizen.
to impress or urge (an argument, contention, etc.) forcibly; lay stress upon.

He enforced his argument by adding details.

enforce British

/ ɪnˈfɔːsɪdlɪ, ɪnˈfɔːs /

verb

to ensure observance of or obedience to (a law, decision, etc)
to impose (obedience, loyalty, etc) by or as by force
to emphasize or reinforce (an argument, demand, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of enforce

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English enforcen, from Anglo-French enforcer, Old French enforcier, enforc(ir), from en- en- ¹ + forci(e)r “to compel, strengthen” ( see force)

Explanation

To enforce means to make sure the laws and rules are being followed. So those guys wearing striped outfits and whistles? They're in charge of enforcing the rules of the game. See the word force inside of enforce? It can help you remember that enforce is all about forcing others to follow the rules. The traffic police enforce the driving laws by handing out speeding tickets. Your parents hopefully enforce good behavior by grounding you when you stay out too late. It would be wonderful if everyone just followed the rules on their own, but it seems the temptation to be bad is just too strong. So thank goodness for all the enforcers that keep us in line.

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Vocabulary lists containing enforce

Stay Strong: Forc and Fort

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13th Amendment (1865)

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19th Amendment (1920)

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

enforce enforces enforced enforcing

Beijing has also been leaning on its coast guard as it seeks to enforce control over an area through which trillions of dollars of trade passes each year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

It was also the most manageable option of the three to enforce, the report said.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

In light of the clashes, the civil grand jury supported the commission’s push to look for outside representation to enforce its role.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

The clearest costs are borne by Americans who use adjudicatory commissions to enforce rights they cannot apply anywhere else.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

The function of this court as is the function of the court in any other country is to enforce law and order and to enforce the laws of the state within which it functions.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

For more than a decade, aircraft entering Yemeni airspace have needed prior clearance from the Saudi-led coalition that backs the government and says it enforces the restriction at its request.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

Aronowitz, as head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor office that enforces ERISA, is responsible for following through.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

U.S. law generally enforces a quiet period for 40 days after the IPO during which time the company and any of the underwriters are prohibited from any communications on the stock.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026

The nonprofit American Bureau of Shipping is a classification society that sets and enforces technical safety standards for ships and offshore structures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

Enforce′ment, act of enforcing: compulsion: a giving effect to: that which enforces.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

The blockade could be enforced by long-range air operations plus ship interceptions in open seas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

While Ofcom has faced calls to take action on the issue, some of its powers to do so are bound up with rules for categorised services that have not yet been enforced.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Is there an unpaid judgment that could still be enforced?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

A ban on advertising, including by influencers, is a central plank of the bill, though questions remain over how it could be enforced.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

I just envied those dumb Bobbseys for having a superior adventure to ours, in that cool, snowy place, where no one had to endure an enforced fiesta.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Canada and the UAE are among other countries that have announced similar bans, while Indonesia began enforcing its ban for users under 16 in March.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

“We are simplifying the organization, strengthening leadership, enforcing accountability and aligning our structure with the priorities that matter most: customers, quality, and innovation,” Napoli said in a statement.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

It maps on pretty cleanly because a lot of the cases that people really like involve the court enforcing federal legislation.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

A private AI regulator likely would have significantly more authority, including making and enforcing binding rules.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

“The Amity will have trouble enforcing that policy,” says Marcus.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023