enact

play

verb en·act \ i-ˈnakt \

Definition of enact

transitive verb

1 :to establish by legal and authoritative act; specifically :to make into law

enact a bill

2 :act out

enact a role

—

enactor

play \i-ˈnak-tər\ noun

See enact defined for English-language learners

See enact defined for kids

Examples of enact in a Sentence

Congress will enact legislation related to that issue.
The law was finally enacted today.

Recent Examples of enact from the Web

A spending bill enacted after Superstorm Sandy authorized the program to borrow up to $30.4 billion.

— Washington Post, "AP Explains: Harvey shows strain on flood insurance program," 31 Aug. 2017
Saving Face A House Democratic staff member said enacting Harvey aid could let Trump save face when signing a temporary bill that omits wall money.

— erik wasson, Bloomberg.com, "Harvey May Spur Congress to Avoid Shutdown, Debt-Ceiling Fights," 30 Aug. 2017
The City of Naperville's Financial Advisory Board is recommending the city double its home rule sales tax and get rid of a $2 million property tax abatement enacted in 2016.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Advisory board recommends doubling sales tax, tossing property tax abatement," 29 Aug. 2017
Gallegos was one of those rare public administrators who understood his job as limited to advising politicians and enacting their policy decisions, period.

— dan mcswain, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scandal fells a true hero to commuters," 28 Aug. 2017
The ban on transgender personnel was officially lifted July 1, 2016 by President Obama but delayed as service branches formulated plans to enact the change.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Military to stop paying for sex reassignment surgery, no longer accept transgender people," 24 Aug. 2017
The reality is, so long as Trump remains president, Republicans will need him to enact their agenda, and vice versa.

— isobel thompson, The Hive, "Trump Under Fire for Hesitating to Condemn White Supremacists," 14 Aug. 2017
After the deadly 2009 Colgan Air crash in Buffalo that killed 50 people, new laws for pilot training were enacted.

— sophie weiner, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. Is Facing a Disastrous Pilot Shortage," 28 July 2017
The policy enacted last year included efforts to recruit more transgender military members, which Trump’s Department of Defense has been delaying, BuzzFeed News reported last month.

— danielle tcholakian, Longreads, "A Transgender-Military Reading List," 26 July 2017

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

First Known Use of enact

15th century

enact Synonyms

Synonyms

constitute, lay down, legislate, make, ordain, pass

Antonyms

repeal, rescind, revoke

Related Words

reenact, repass; bring about, effect; allow, authorize, permit, sanction; decree, dictate, proclaim; administer, execute; approve, confirm, ratify

Near Antonyms

abolish, abrogate, annul, cancel, invalidate, kill, nullify; overturn, reverse, void

ENACT Defined for English Language Learners

enact

play

verb

Definition of enact for English Language Learners

: to perform (something, such as a scene in a play)
: to make (a bill or other legislation) officially become part of the law

ENACT Defined for Kids

enact

play

verb en·act \ i-ˈnakt \

Definition of enact for Students

enacted; enacting

1 :to perform or act out

Two students enacted the story for the class.

2 :to make into law

enact legislation

—

enactment

\-mənt\ noun

Law Dictionary

enact

play

transitive verb en·act \ i-ˈnakt \

legal Definition of enact

:to establish by legal and authoritative act :make into law

enact a bill

Learn More about enact

See words that rhyme with enact Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for enact Spanish Central: Translation of enact Nglish: Translation of enact for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of enact for Arabic speakers

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enact

Definition of enact

enactor

From the M-W Editors

Examples of enact in a Sentence

Recent Examples of enact from the Web

First Known Use of enact

enact Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

ENACT Defined for English Language Learners

enact

Definition of enact for English Language Learners

ENACT Defined for Kids

enact

Definition of enact for Students

enactment

Law Dictionary

enact

legal Definition of enact

Learn More about enact

Seen and Heard

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