impose

[ im-pohz ]

/ ɪmˈpoʊz /

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.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

importunacy, importunate, importunately, importune, importunity, impose, impose on, imposing, imposing stone, imposition, impossibility

Origin of impose

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

SYNONYMS FOR impose

3 force, foist.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR impose ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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.sub·im·posed, adjectiveun·im·posed, adjectivewell-im·posed, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for reimpose

Even if the regime manages to reimpose its authority over the city, however, Aleppo is much more fractured than before.
As Syrian Troops Pour Into Aleppo, Rebels Warn of Drawn-Out War|The Telegraph|July 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Clift: Some people say we should just reimpose the Glass-Steagall Act.
Barney Frank on JPMorgan’s Contradictions, Mitt Romney’s Mistakes|Eleanor Clift|May 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Why the reluctance to reimpose Glass-Steagall protections, which worked so well for so long?
How Obama Wimped Out|Eric Alterman|April 29, 2010|DAILY BEAST
All such acts of misplaced mercy were pronounced void, and Zoen was ordered to reimpose all such penalties without appeal.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II|Henry Charles Lea

It always ended with a reservation of power to modify, to mitigate, to increase, and to reimpose at discretion.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I|Henry Charles Lea
Every subsequent attempt to reimpose that yoke213 was foiled.
Ten Tudor Statesmen|Arthur D. Innes
Once more the normal aspect of the situation began to reimpose itself upon the two women.
The Zeppelin's Passenger|E. Phillips Oppenheim
When order was restored and the tribunal was re-established, there was a fruitless effort made to reimpose them.
A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 3|Henry Charles Lea

British Dictionary definitions for reimpose (1 of 2)

reimpose

/ (ˌriːɪmˈpəʊz) /

verb (tr)

to establish previously imposed laws, controls, etc, again

Derived Formsreimposition, noun

British Dictionary definitions for reimpose (2 of 2)

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 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