enable

play

verb en·able \i-ˈnā-bəl\

Definition of enable

enabled

;

enabling

play \i-ˈnā-b(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb
1a : to provide with the means or opportunity training that enables people to earn a livingb : to make possible, practical, or easy a deal that would enable passage of a new lawc : to cause to operate software that enables the keyboard
2 : to give legal power, capacity, or sanction to a law enabling admission of a state

See enable defined for English-language learners

See enable defined for kids

Examples of enable in a Sentence

The machine enables us to create copies without losing quality.
The system enables students to access class materials online.
These choices are part of what enabled the company to be successful.
a filing system that enables easy access to information
Be sure to enable your computer's firewall.

Recent Examples of enable from the Web

They're less known for the business empire that's enabled that wealth: Koch Industries.

— christopher leonard, chicagotribune.com, "A look at how Koch does business", 5 July 2017
And for those who had lost an entire arm, motors at shoulder level enabled people to lift their arms above their head.

— david gonzalez, New York Times, "For Two Veterans, a Freedom Restored for Independence Day", 2 July 2017
This platform of social change enables children to play, learn and develop, and communities around the world can benefit.

— posted jim varsallone, miamiherald, "Kick It Miami", 2 July 2017
Practically everyone has mobile phones, and cheap Internet access has enabled most Vietnamese city dwellers to get online.

— tran van minh, The Seattle Times, "Ride-hailing services transform Vietnam’s transport culture", 28 June 2017
Coffee was pretty much a character on Gilmore Girls, thanks to Luke Danes of Luke's Diner for enabling Lorelai and Rory Gilmore's coffee addiction on the daily.

— sophie hirsh, Bon Appetit, "Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson Has a Coffee Brand in the Works", 28 June 2017
In addition, the Senate bill would phase out funding for the expansion of Medicaid, which enabled 3.8 million single, childless adults and others in the state to qualify.

— anna gorman, Kaiser Health News, "Calif. Officials Sound Alarm, Envisioning $114B Hit To Medi-Cal Under U.S. Senate Bill", 28 June 2017
Citi enables us to see the world from a financial standpoint.

— reuters, Fortune, "Intel Is Teaming With This Israeli Cybersecurity Incubator", 21 June 2017
On the other hand, curse Apple and Netflix for enabling us to condition our kids into thinking that's the best way to spend their free time!

— rob manker, Naperville Sun, "Manker: Summer's too precious not to spend it outside with the kids", 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enable'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Enabling: the Behavior of an Enabler

Enable has a number of senses, most of which are some variant on allowing someone (or something, such as enabling cookies on a computer) to do something. In the past several decades, enable has also started to take on a new associated sense in the field of addiction studies, where enabling is viewed as giving misguided support to a person with some substance-abuse issue. A person who facilitates the self-destructive behavior of another is referred to as an enabler.

First Known Use of enable

15th century

ENABLE Defined for English Language Learners

enable

play

verb

Definition of enable for English Language Learners

: to make (someone or something) able to do or to be something
: to make (something) possible, practical, or easy
: to cause (a feature or capability of a computer) to be active or available for use