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
Experts like Hofflinger question whether local building standards are sufficient or thoroughly enforced enough to prevent fire risks.
—
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The agency does not have the power to enforce these rules, but the disaster motivated many countries to comply with regulations.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026
In fire-prone areas, Cal Fire and local fire departments already enforce defensible space rules, and building codes require home hardening like covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the house.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
In his six years in the Senate, where Kempthorne also served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was rebuked for working to limit federal involvement in enforcing environmental policy.
—Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enforce
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Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The agency does not have the power to enforce these rules, but the disaster motivated many countries to comply with regulations.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026
In fire-prone areas, Cal Fire and local fire departments already enforce defensible space rules, and building codes require home hardening like covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the house.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
In his six years in the Senate, where Kempthorne also served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was rebuked for working to limit federal involvement in enforcing environmental policy.
—Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 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 28 Apr. 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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