impose

im·pose

verb \im-ˈpōz\

im·posedim·pos·ing

Definition of IMPOSE

transitive verb

1

a : to establish or apply by authority <impose a tax> <impose new restrictions> <impose penalties>

b : to establish or bring about as if by force <those limits imposed by our own inadequacies — C. H. Plimpton>

2

a : place, set

b : to arrange (as pages) in the proper order for printing

3

: pass off <impose fake antiques on the public>

4

: to force into the company or on the attention of another <impose oneself on others>

intransitive verb

: to take unwarranted advantage of something <imposed on his good nature>

— im·pos·er noun

Examples of IMPOSE

1. The judge imposed a life sentence.
2. I needed to break free from the limits imposed by my own fear of failure.

Origin of IMPOSE

Middle French imposer, from Latin imponere, literally, to put upon (perfect indicative imposui), from in- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use: 1581

Related to IMPOSE

Synonyms

assess, charge, exact, fine, lay, levy, put

Antonyms

remit

Related Words

dock, excise, mulct, penalize, tax; extort, shake down, wrest, wring; bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze; coerce, compel, force; inflict, wreak; set; reapply, reimpose, relay

Near Antonyms

abate, diminish, lessen; forgive, release; condone, disregard, excuse, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon

Rhymes with IMPOSE

appose, bluenose, brownnose, compose, depose, dextrose, disclose, dispose, dog rose, enclose, expose, foreclose, fructose, glucose, hardnose, Montrose, moss rose, musk rose, old rose, oppose, primrose, propose, pug nose, repose, rockrose, suppose, transpose, tuberose, unclose, viscose, wind rose