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
Families of nine girls killed in the July 4, 2025, flash flood at Camp Mystic have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against six Texas health officials, alleging regulators failed to enforce mandatory evacuation plan requirements for licensed youth camps.
—
Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
However, Paxton has struggled to enforce the Texas court’s ruling against the out-of-state doctor, foiled so far by New York’s shield law.
—Emily Brindley
health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
The Department of Justice filed suit over those policies in a New Jersey federal court on Monday, asking a judge to invalidate the executive order and issue an injunction to prohibit the state from enforcing it.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Complaints have persisted from pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups that policies are unevenly enforced.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enforce
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Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
However, Paxton has struggled to enforce the Texas court’s ruling against the out-of-state doctor, foiled so far by New York’s shield law.
—Emily Brindley
health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
The Department of Justice filed suit over those policies in a New Jersey federal court on Monday, asking a judge to invalidate the executive order and issue an injunction to prohibit the state from enforcing it.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Complaints have persisted from pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups that policies are unevenly enforced.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enforce
Cite this Entry
“Enforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enforce. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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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