enforce

verb

en·​force in-ˈfȯrs How to pronounce enforce (audio)
en-
enforced; enforcing; enforces
Synonyms of enforcenext

transitive verb

1
: to give force to : strengthen
2
: to urge with energy
enforce arguments
3
: constrain, compel
enforce obedience
4
obsolete : to effect or gain by force
5
: to carry out effectively
enforce laws
enforceability noun
enforceable adjective
enforcement noun

Examples of enforce in a Sentence

Police will be enforcing the parking ban. the duty of the police is to enforce the law
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rights for sea ice would require international agreement, which could be not only harder to achieve but harder to enforce. Brett Simpson, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025 In her comments, one person suggested that OP enforce a one gift per person policy. Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025 Police in Paris enforced a curfew, and British veterans worried about how the Americans would respond to the German attack. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025 Attorneys for the families announced the filing Tuesday, which alleges state and local agencies failed to enforce safety laws and ignored known violations at the Esparto compound where the blast occurred. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 24 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enforce

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enforcer, from en- + force force

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enforce was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enforce. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

enforce

verb
en·​force in-ˈfō(ə)rs How to pronounce enforce (audio)
-ˈfȯ(ə)rs
1
: to bring about by force : compel
enforce obedience
2
: to carry out effectively
enforce the law
enforceable adjective
enforcement noun
enforcer noun

Legal Definition

enforce

transitive verb
en·​force
enforced; enforcing
: to cause to take effect or to be fulfilled
enforcing the divorce decree
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislationU.S. Constitution amend. XIX

More from Merriam-Webster on enforce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!