impose

[ im-pohz ]

/ ɪmˈpoʊz /

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See synonyms for: impose / imposed / imposing 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR impose

3 force, foist.

See synonyms for impose on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of impose

First recorded in 1475–85; late Middle English, from Middle French imposer, equivalent to im- im-¹ + poser “to stop, cease”; see pose¹; see also pose²

OTHER WORDS FROM impose

im·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.

Words nearby impose

import quota, importunacy, importunate, importune, importunity, impose, imposed, impose on, imposing, imposing stone, imposition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use impose in a sentence

Before the coronavirus pandemic imposed restrictions on physical contact, the Patrick Henry and Georgetown students gathered in person, and over the course of the program, they interacted with different partners.
An innovative Georgetown lab looks to theater to quell political fires|Peter Marks|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The second wave of internet regulation laws is now targeting platforms by imposing demands.
Uganda’s election is a key moment for the splinternet in Africa|Odanga Madung|February 10, 2021|Quartz
In one case, the governor imposes strict lockdowns, mask wearing, and so on.
“We did the worst job in the world”: Lawrence Wright on America’s botched Covid-19 response|Sean Illing|February 9, 2021|Vox
The Reagan-era Lifeline program imposes fees on telecom giants such as AT&T and Verizon, which pass them along to phone subscribers on their monthly bills.
Lacking a Lifeline: How a federal effort to help low-income Americans pay their phone bills failed amid the pandemic|Tony Romm|February 9, 2021|Washington Post

If Amazon were to make what the FTC considers “deceptive earnings claims” for a second time, the agency would then have the authority to impose civil penalties as well.
Why Amazon’s $62 Million FTC Labor Settlement Is a Bigger Deal Than the Bezos News|Abby Vesoulis|February 4, 2021|Time
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
I make a distinction between personal essays and memoir, which is a personal distinction, not one I would impose upon others.
Meghan Daum On Tackling The Unspeakable Parts Of Life|David Yaffe|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Any delay in covering such deficit shall be subject to such charge as the Federal Reserve Board may impose.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Hence, in their professed attempt to aid the memory, they really impose a new and additional burden upon it.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
An attempt to impose an imitation on a practised judge is always productive of an unpleasant result.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
But he failed to impose upon the Colonel, and was even far from impressing him with this trumped-up knowledge of bygone days.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Moreover, it must be prejudicial to the national interest to impose parliamentary taxes.
The Eve of the Revolution|Carl Becker

British Dictionary definitions for impose

impose

/ (ɪmˈpəʊz) /

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 forms of impose

imposable, 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

impose

OTHER WORDS FOR impose

Origin of impose

OTHER WORDS FROM impose

Words nearby impose

Words related to impose

How to use impose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for impose

Derived forms of impose

Word Origin for impose