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
How geography shapes South Pacific eco-tourism The yield model works in the South Pacific partly because geography enforces it.
—
Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
By ordinance, food establishments had until May 1 to renew their operating permit before the suspension was enforced.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The loss of life has sparked a public service campaign to enforce laws mandating self-closing doors in apartment buildings, and reminders to tenants to close doors to keep fires from spreading.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
There is no opt-out — the location itself enforces the disconnect.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for enforce
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Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
By ordinance, food establishments had until May 1 to renew their operating permit before the suspension was enforced.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The loss of life has sparked a public service campaign to enforce laws mandating self-closing doors in apartment buildings, and reminders to tenants to close doors to keep fires from spreading.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
There is no opt-out — the location itself enforces the disconnect.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 May 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 18 May. 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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