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
In Kansas City, the city’s health department enforces the food code while in Kansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture handles inspections.
—
Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Regulations are poorly enforced in India where some public sector officials cut corners, leading to safety hazards.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
However, it should be noted that Arkansas’ NIL collective did retain the services of an attorney to try to enforce a buyout clause in quarterback Madden Iamaleava's deal.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Judge Liman issued a temporary restraining order in May barring the transportation department from enforcing a directive to shut down the program.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enforce
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Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Regulations are poorly enforced in India where some public sector officials cut corners, leading to safety hazards.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
However, it should be noted that Arkansas’ NIL collective did retain the services of an attorney to try to enforce a buyout clause in quarterback Madden Iamaleava's deal.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Judge Liman issued a temporary restraining order in May barring the transportation department from enforcing a directive to shut down the program.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enforce
Cite this Entry
“Enforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enforce. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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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