impose
Americanverb (used with object)
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imposes,
present (3rd person singular)
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imposed,
past participle, past
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imposing
present participle
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to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc..
to impose taxes.
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to put or set by or as if by authority.
to impose one's personal preference on others.
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to obtrude or thrust (oneself, one's company, etc.) upon others.
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to pass or palm off fraudulently or deceptively.
He imposed his pretentious books on the public.
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Printing. to lay (type pages, plates, etc.) in proper order on an imposing stone or the like and secure in a chase for printing.
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to lay on or inflict, as a penalty.
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Archaic. to put or place on something, or in a particular place.
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Obsolete. to lay on (the hands) ceremonially, as in confirmation or ordination.
verb (used without object)
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imposes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
imposed,
past participle, past
-
imposing
present participle
-
to make an impression on the mind; impose one's or its authority or influence.
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to obtrude oneself or one's requirements, as upon others.
Are you sure my request doesn't impose?
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to presume, as upon patience or good nature.
verb phrase
verb
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(tr) to establish as something to be obeyed or complied with; enforce
to impose a tax on the people
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to force (oneself, one's presence, etc) on another or others; obtrude
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(intr) to take advantage, as of a person or quality
to impose on someone's kindness
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(tr) printing to arrange pages so that after printing and folding the pages will be in the correct order
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(tr) to pass off deceptively; foist
to impose a hoax on someone
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(tr) (of a bishop or priest) to lay (the hands) on the head of a candidate for certain sacraments
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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imposernoun
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reimposeverb
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overimposeverb (used with object)
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preimposeverb (used with object)
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imposableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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imposesimple
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imposessimple
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have imposedperfect
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has imposedperfect
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am imposingprogressive
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are imposingprogressive
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is imposingprogressive
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have been imposingperfect progressive
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has been imposingperfect progressive
Past
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imposedsimple
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had imposedperfect
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was imposingprogressive
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were imposingprogressive
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had been imposingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of impose
First recorded in 1475–85; late Middle English, from Middle French imposer, equivalent to im- im- 1 + poser “to stop, cease”; pose 1; pose 2
Explanation
To impose means to force or inflict something on someone else. If you want to impose your musical taste on your parents, play your tunes all day at top volume. The verb impose emerged in the 1580s, meaning "to lay on as a burden," which is very similar to the modern meaning. Governments often impose taxes, legal restrictions, and other burdensome things on citizens, for example. But you should remember what Confucius once wisely said: "Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire."
Vocabulary lists containing impose
The Declaration of Independence
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List 2
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"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
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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:
Canada said it intends to impose tariffs of up to 50% on roughly 700 products as the acrimony between Ottawa and Washington escalates following the collapse of trade talks, the Journal’s Paul Vieira reports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
A decision by the Parades Commission to impose restrictions on one of the most contentious parades in Northern Ireland has been quashed in the High Court.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Texas does not impose a separate estate tax.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
"It is very difficult for a school community to impose a new rule on young people. Even if the law is supposed to apply automatically, it is not that simple," she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
All rulers of all ages have tried to impose a false view of the world upon their followers, but they could not afford to encourage any illusion that tended to impair military efficiency.
From "1984" by George Orwell
In June, county voters approved Measure ER, which imposes a half-cent sales tax estimated to bring in $1 billion a year to help cash-strapped hospitals, clinics and Planned Parenthood services.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
These numbers don’t include the fiscal burden that the National Health Service imposes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
The legislation also imposes the first federal restrictions on purchases of single-family homes by large corporate investors, targeting firms that already own hundreds of properties.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Our system imposes that experience over 2 million times each year.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
That imposes two demands on the long-suffering reader.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Years of sanctions imposed on Libya by the United Nations led to the two men being handed over to stand trial at a Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Mado in 2021.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
The effect of Canada’s latest tariffs, if imposed, would be a modest dent in a $32-trillion American economy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
Any cuts at Volkswagen have to be negotiated rather than imposed, setting up protracted and difficult talks.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
Daddy also imposed a five-minute limit on the use of the bathroom and the telephone.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
This would involve imposing sanctions on not just Iran but any entity doing business with it.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
If the current trend continues, the magnesium that American industry depends on could disappear from world markets by 2030 without Beijing imposing a single sanction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
US President Donald Trump said he will delay imposing new tariffs on a wide array of Canadian goods for three days as the countries firm up a trade deal.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
“Listing all the reasons they shouldn’t do it and imposing ‘This is what you should do’ can make the client feel judged,” Taylor said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
Frankie clung to my trail, following me past riveted metal machines, past imposing cannons and naval guns, past armored plates and display cases of mortars and bullets.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
