enforce
to put or keep in force; compel obedience to: to enforce a rule; Traffic laws will be strictly enforced.
to obtain (payment, obedience, etc.) by force or compulsion.
to impose (a course of action) upon a person: The doctor enforced a strict dietary regimen.
to support (a demand, claim, etc.) by force: to enforce one's rights as a citizen.
to impress or urge (an argument, contention, etc.) forcibly; lay stress upon: He enforced his argument by adding details.
Origin of enforce
1Other words for enforce
Other words from enforce
- en·force·a·ble, adjective
- en·force·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- en·forc·ed·ly [en-fawr-sid-lee, -fohr-], /ɛnˈfɔr sɪd li, -ˈfoʊr-/, adverb
- en·forc·er, noun
- en·forc·ive, adjective
- half-en·forced, adjective
- non·en·force·a·ble, adjective
- non·en·forced, adjective
- non·en·for·ced·ly, adverb
- non·en·forc·ing, adjective
- pre·en·force, verb (used with object), pre·en·forced, pre·en·forc·ing.
- qua·si-en·forced, adjective
- un·en·force·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- un·en·force·a·ble, adjective
- un·en·forced, adjective
- un·en·forc·ed·ly, adverb
- well-en·forced, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for enforce
/ (ɪnˈfɔːs) /
to ensure observance of or obedience to (a law, decision, etc)
to impose (obedience, loyalty, etc) by or as by force
to emphasize or reinforce (an argument, demand, etc)
Derived forms of enforce
- enforceable, adjective
- enforceability, noun
- enforcedly (ɪnˈfɔːsɪdlɪ), adverb
- enforcement, noun
- enforcer, noun
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
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