Showing results for "imposed"

• past tense form of impose.
• past participle of impose.

imposed

American  

[im-pohzd] / ɪmˈpoʊzd /

adjective

1. laid on by someone, especially an authority, as something to be endured, obeyed, paid, etc..

   Offenders receive swiftly imposed but meaningful community service assignments, which the court monitors daily for compliance.

2. thrust or forced upon someone else, as one’s tastes, ideas, company, etc..

   I pray for my children to grow confidently into who they have been created to be, free from the pressure of imposed reputation and expectation.

3. created or established forcibly or artificially rather than developing naturally.

   All living systems organize and reorganize themselves into adaptive patterns and structures without any externally imposed plan or direction.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of impose.

Other Word Forms

• subimposed
  adjective
• unimposed
  adjective
• well-imposed
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of imposed

impose ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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Explanation

Something that is imposed is usually unwelcome and unpleasant and is expected to be endured — like higher taxes or unwelcome guests. The adjective imposed comes from the Latin imponere, "to place upon, to inflict or deceive." An imposed tax is one placed upon you by law. The English word comes by way of the Middle French verb imposer, meaning "to lay a burden." So if you are imposed upon by an unwanted guest, you'll have to endure an imposed visit.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

imposed

Wong is among hundreds of campaigners and ordinary Hongkongers arrested under the law, which was imposed in 2020 following explosive pro-democracy protests against Beijing's growing control.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

The security law, which Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, prohibits such calls for sanctions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Its quarterly revenue, by contrast, jumped 8.6 percent year-on-year to 13.4 trillion yen, thanks to an increase in unit sales in Japan and Europe and stabilisation in North America, despite tariffs imposed by Washington.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

He imposed high tariffs on imports that rewired global trade flows and launched two military campaigns, including an inconclusive conflict with Iran that sent energy prices rocketing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Turner ran to the shore every day now, the forbidden having been silently lifted—or at least not imposed.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt

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Related Words

• prescribed
• required
• sanctioned

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