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
Charles Allen, the respected former chief executive of broadcaster ITV, resigned last week as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport’s governing body, which licences participants, oversees disciplinary procedures and enforces the rules.
—
Ian King, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission already has the power to investigate schools and enforce students’ rights, but it’s rarely used for that end.
—Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
When they were replaced by a central system in the 1970s, the county created DERM to replace the pollution-control office, giving it broad authority to enforce regulations that now included new national pollution laws under the Clean Water Act.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
One big issue is how groups could actually enforce any changes.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enforce
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Ian King, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission already has the power to investigate schools and enforce students’ rights, but it’s rarely used for that end.
—Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
When they were replaced by a central system in the 1970s, the county created DERM to replace the pollution-control office, giving it broad authority to enforce regulations that now included new national pollution laws under the Clean Water Act.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
One big issue is how groups could actually enforce any changes.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 10 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 12 Mar. 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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