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
On Sunday, police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the church, citing security concerns as Israel enforces a ban on gatherings in synagogues, churches and mosques during the ongoing war with Iran, which has brought missile strikes near holy sites.
—
Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The pilot was not cited because Olathe police do not have the authority to investigate and enforce FAA regulations, Moncayo said.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Some supporters, such as ex-UFC fighter Dan Henderson, have endorsed Bianco, citing his 2020 refusal to enforce state COVID-19 restrictions as evidence of his commitment to constitutional principles.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Both the precautionary principle and the Asilomar model assume to some extent that there’s a trustworthy authority capable of making the call on how to move forward with a new technology — some institution that can weigh the risks, set the rules, and enforce them.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
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Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The pilot was not cited because Olathe police do not have the authority to investigate and enforce FAA regulations, Moncayo said.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Some supporters, such as ex-UFC fighter Dan Henderson, have endorsed Bianco, citing his 2020 refusal to enforce state COVID-19 restrictions as evidence of his commitment to constitutional principles.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Both the precautionary principle and the Asilomar model assume to some extent that there’s a trustworthy authority capable of making the call on how to move forward with a new technology — some institution that can weigh the risks, set the rules, and enforce them.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 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 2 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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