violate
verb (used with object)
to act against (a law, principle, promise, agreement, instruction, etc.); break, transgress, or fail to honor.
have violated
-
present perfectof violate.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
The Travis County District Attorney’s office said the shooting may have violated state law and requested access to evidence for local investigators and the Austin Police Department.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
The other two hospitals were not found to have violated that law, and they did not respond to requests for comment.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
The Federal Trade Commission also has strict rules on debt collectors, and this caller may have violated them.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
However, after being contacted by the BBC, TikTok later removed the video and, in a statement, said it would remove videos that have violated its community guidelines on "bullying and harassment".
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
Academics would have violated their generation’s ideal of openness if they had said that their schools couldn’t accommodate disadvantaged Americans.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
