enforce

en·force

transitive verb \in-ˈfȯrs, en-\

Definition of ENFORCE

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>

— en·force·abil·i·ty \-ˌfȯr-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— en·force·able \-ˈfȯr-sə-bəl\ adjective

— en·force·ment \-ˈfȯr-smənt\ noun

Examples of ENFORCE

1. Police will be enforcing the parking ban.
2. <the duty of the police is to enforce the law>

Origin of ENFORCE

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ENFORCE

Synonyms

administer, apply, execute, implement

Related Words

bring about, effect, effectuate; discharge, fulfill (or fulfil), render; cite, invoke; enact, legislate; honor, observe, uphold; prosecute; promulgate

Near Antonyms

disregard, ignore, neglect

Rhymes with ENFORCE

clotheshorse, concourse, crash course, dark horse, dawn horse, dead horse, deforce, discourse, divorce, dray horse, endorse, extrorse, golf course, gut course, high horse, introrse, iron horse, midcourse, of course, Old Norse, one-horse, packhorse, perforce, post-horse, racecourse, racehorse, recourse, redhorse, remorse, resource, retrorse, sawhorse, sea horse, stringcourse, trial horse, unhorse, warhorse, wheelhorse, Whitehorse, workhorse