enforce
//ɪnˈfoɹs//
Forms
- present (v1)
- enforce
- past (v2)
- enforced
- past participle (v3)
- enforced
- present participle
- enforcing
- 3rd person singular
- enforces
Definitions
1.To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force.
- The police are there to enforce the law.
- Far from needing to be repealed, the ban on politics in the pulpit ought to be enforced more aggressively.
2.To apply a rule or enforcement action to a person or user account.
- This will give us the tools we need to enforce accounts like these.
3.To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize.
- The victim was able to enforce his evidence against the alleged perpetrator.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3635
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English enforcen
From Old French enforcier
From Late Latin infortiāre
From in- + fortis (“strong”).