impose

[im-pohz]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR impose ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), im·posed, im·pos·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), im·posed, im·pos·ing.

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.

Verb Phrases

impose on/upon,

to thrust oneself offensively upon others; intrude.
to take unfair advantage of; misuse (influence, friendship, etc.).
to defraud; cheat; deceive: A study recently showed the shocking number of confidence men that impose on the public.

Origin of impose

1475–85; late Middle English < Middle French imposer, equivalent to im- im-¹ + poser to pose¹; see also pose²

Related formsim·pos·a·ble, adjectiveim·pos·er, nouno·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.sub·im·posed, adjectiveun·im·posed, adjectivewell-im·posed, adjective

Synonyms for impose

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR impose ON THESAURUS.COM

3. force, foist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for impose

appoint, levy, force, institute, require, introduce, order, foist, charge, place, promulgate, inflict, demand, put, establish, enforce, presume, visit, trespass, enjoin

Examples from the Web for impose

Contemporary Examples of impose

Expectations, reasonable or unrealistic, remain so even if we impose them on ourselves.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement
Tim Teeman
December 30, 2014
The United Nations was prompted to impose a ban on selling mainframe computers or laptops to North Korea.
Inside the ‘Surprisingly Great’ North Korean Hacker Hotel
Michael Daly
December 20, 2014
The United States has tools to impose costs on the North Koreans.
U.S. Should Make North Korea Pay for Sony Hack
Gordon G. Chang
December 18, 2014
We can, due to the critical issues at stake, also go one more step and impose an embargo.
U.S. Should Make North Korea Pay for Sony Hack
Gordon G. Chang
December 18, 2014
In spite of all these changes, the force of the state continued to impose the black abaya in public.
Saudi Activist Manal Al-Sharif on Why She Removed the Veil
Manal Al Sharif, Advancing Human Rights
October 30, 2014

Historical Examples of impose

We will not use our friendship to impose on their sovereignty, for our own sovereignty is not for sale.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
He wanted to impose his will on me, and I would not submit to it.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
It in no way wishes to impose work on women nor to make them unaccustomed to it.
The Sexual Question
August Forel
And surely, said he, this is not a very severe order which we impose upon them.
The Republic
Plato

British Dictionary definitions for impose

impose

verb (usually foll by on or upon)

(tr) to establish as something to be obeyed or complied with; enforceto 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 qualityto 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; foistto impose a hoax on someone

(tr) (of a bishop or priest) to lay (the hands) on the head of a candidate for certain sacraments

Derived Formsimposable, adjectiveimposer, noun

Word Origin for impose

C15: from Old French imposer, from Latin impōnere to place upon, from pōnere to place, set

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

Word Origin and History for impose

late 14c., "to lay (a crime, etc.) to the account of," from Old French imposer "put, place; impute, charge, accuse" (c.1300), from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + poser "put, place" (see pose (v.1)). Sense of "to lay on as a burden" first recorded 1580s. Related: Imposed; imposing.