impose
to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc.: to impose taxes.
to put or set by or as if by authority: to impose one's personal preference on others.
to obtrude or thrust (oneself, one's company, etc.) upon others.
to pass or palm off fraudulently or deceptively: He imposed his pretentious books on the public.
Printing. to lay (type pages, plates, etc.) in proper order on an imposing stone or the like and secure in a chase for printing.
to lay on or inflict, as a penalty.
Archaic. to put or place on something, or in a particular place.
Obsolete. to lay on (the hands) ceremonially, as in confirmation or ordination.
to make an impression on the mind; impose one's or its authority or influence.
to obtrude oneself or one's requirements, as upon others: Are you sure my request doesn't impose?
to presume, as upon patience or good nature.
Origin of impose
1Other words for impose
Other words from impose
- im·pos·a·ble, adjective
- im·pos·er, noun
- o·ver·im·pose, verb (used with object), o·ver·im·posed, o·ver·im·pos·ing.
- pre·im·pose, verb (used with object), pre·im·posed, pre·im·pos·ing.
- re·im·pose, verb, re·im·posed, re·im·pos·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use impose in a sentence
He has opposed mask mandates and social distancing measures, and sought to reopen the economy almost as soon as regional restrictions were imposed in March.
50 million world Covid-19 cases: The biggest outbreaks, explained | Christina Animashaun | November 9, 2020 | VoxChina later imposed sweeping reforms on China’s mobile gaming industry that included content and playing time restrictions.
China’s markets welcome homegrown tech—but Ant’s suspended IPO is a reminder of the risks | Grady McGregor | November 7, 2020 | FortuneCPRA expands consumer rights and imposes new requirements on businesses.
California’s ‘CCPA 2.0’ passed: Here’s what changes | Greg Sterling | November 3, 2020 | Search Engine LandAlthough the USPS said that inspectors will be in the facilities in question “throughout the evening,” there’s a chance that those unprocessed ballots will miss some deadlines imposed by certain states, reporter John Kruzel of The Hill noted.
USPS update: The latest on how absentee ballots are being counted in swing states | Aric Jenkins | November 3, 2020 | FortuneChina’s government may have already built the world’s largest mass surveillance system, but its citizens appear ready to impose some limits.
The world’s largest surveillance system is growing—and so is the backlash | Grady McGregor | November 3, 2020 | Fortune
British Dictionary definitions for impose
/ (ɪmˈpəʊz) /
(tr) to establish as something to be obeyed or complied with; enforce: to impose a tax on the people
to force (oneself, one's presence, etc) on another or others; obtrude
(intr) to take advantage, as of a person or quality: to impose on someone's kindness
(tr) printing to arrange pages so that after printing and folding the pages will be in the correct order
(tr) to pass off deceptively; foist: to impose a hoax on someone
(tr) (of a bishop or priest) to lay (the hands) on the head of a candidate for certain sacraments
Origin of impose
1Derived forms of impose
- imposable, adjective
- imposer, noun
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
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