enforced; enforcing; enforces
1
: to give force to : strengthen
2
: to urge with energy
enforce arguments
4
obsolete
: to effect or gain by force
5
: to carry out effectively
enforce laws
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
The New York City Commission on Human Rights, which enforces the Human Rights Law, has an online form and a tip line for reporting violations.
—
Debra Kamin, New York Times, 4 June 2024
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is in charge of enforcing workplace safety laws in Wisconsin.
—Maryam Jameel, ProPublica, 3 June 2024
Oftentimes, Barnett says, courts offer money as compensation to a person whose pet is claimed by someone else because judges recognize their own orders are highly difficult to enforce across county or state lines.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2024
But as of today, the REAL ID Act hasn't been enforced.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for enforce 
Debra Kamin, New York Times, 4 June 2024
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is in charge of enforcing workplace safety laws in Wisconsin.
—Maryam Jameel, ProPublica, 3 June 2024
Oftentimes, Barnett says, courts offer money as compensation to a person whose pet is claimed by someone else because judges recognize their own orders are highly difficult to enforce across county or state lines.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2024
But as of today, the REAL ID Act hasn't been enforced.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for enforce
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enforce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near enforce
Cite this Entry
“Enforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enforce. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enforce
verb
en·force
in-ˈfō(ə)rs 
-ˈfȯ(ə)rs
1
: to bring about by force : compel
enforce obedience
2
: to carry out effectively
enforce the law
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 legislation—U.S. Constitution amend. XIX
U.S. Constitution amend. XIXLove words? Need even more definitions?
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