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
Yesterday’s executive order instructs a set of federal agencies to identify state AI regulations that could be deemed cumbersome and then take action against those policies, such as through litigation or conditioning federal funding on not enacting or enforcing the policies.
—
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
The idea of anchoring was to enforce an upper limit on how much money could be poured into wages and transfer fee amortisation (which includes agent fees), with this maximum amount linked to the Premier League’s least well-off teams.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
The investment pledges, though welcome, are just pledges, with no mechanism to enforce them.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
In seeking expedited handling, the industry groups alleged harm if the law is enforced.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enforce
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Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
The idea of anchoring was to enforce an upper limit on how much money could be poured into wages and transfer fee amortisation (which includes agent fees), with this maximum amount linked to the Premier League’s least well-off teams.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
The investment pledges, though welcome, are just pledges, with no mechanism to enforce them.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
In seeking expedited handling, the industry groups alleged harm if the law is enforced.
—CBS News, 12 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 16 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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