enumerate

verb enu·mer·ate \ i-ˈn(y)ü-mə-ˌrāt \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of enumerate

enumerated; enumerating

transitive verb

1 : to ascertain the number of : count

2 : to specify one after another : list

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enumeration

play \i-ˌn(y)ü-mə-ˈrā-shən\ noun

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enumerative

play \i-ˈn(y)ü-mə-ˌrā-tiv, -ˈn(y)üm-rə-, -ˈn(y)ü-mə-rə-\ adjective

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Examples of enumerate in a Sentence

Let me enumerate my reasons for doing this.
I proceeded to enumerate the reasons why I would be justified in filing a lawsuit for negligence.

Recent Examples of enumerate from the Web

But none of the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights is without restriction, if a compelling governmental interest is met.

— staff reports, charlotteobserver, "NC House candidates: Where they stand on key issues | Charlotte Observer," 17 Apr. 2018
Reaboi said, enumerating the many attempts during the Bush and Obama years to promote democracy in autocratic states.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "“Screw Nation Building”: Why the Trump Base Loves John Bolton," 5 Apr. 2018
Work by political scientists Evan Lieberman and Prerna Singh shows that simply enumerating new groups in a census can create conflict.

— shom mazumder, Washington Post, "The census has always been political. Especially when it comes to race, ethnicity, and national origin.," 30 Mar. 2018
In a statement, the group, which calls itself the National Coalition to Prevent an Iranian Nuclear Weapon, enumerated 10 reasons that, in its view, preserving the accord is in the best interests of the United States.

— rick gladstone, New York Times, "U.S. Experts Say Why Trump Should Support Iran Deal," 26 Mar. 2018
At an event hosted by Omnicom on Thursday, Ms. Everson enumerated the steps Facebook has taken since the Cambridge Analytica scandal erupted.

— suzanne vranica, WSJ, "Facebook and Google Face Emboldened Antagonists: Big Advertisers," 25 Mar. 2018
Still, a number of promising exhibitions are on the calendar, as enumerated below.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "Spring art exhibitions that transport to Laguna, Teotihuacan, Iran and beyond," 22 Mar. 2018
Perhaps Hannity, a latter-day Woodward and Bernstein wrapped into one, just ran out of characters with which to enumerate his unimpeachable journalistic bona fides.

— jay willis, GQ, "Sean Hannity Can't Decide If He's a Journalist or Not," 16 Mar. 2018
The second enumerates the powers and responsibilities to his chief of staff, Clark Mercer.

— laura vozzella, Washington Post, "Fiddlers, native Americans and a champion oyster shucker salute new Va. governor," 6 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enumerate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Meaning of enumerate Gets Specific

In a census year, the U.S. government attempts to enumerate every single citizen of the country—a task that, even in the modern era of technology, isn't truly possible. Medical tests often require the enumeration of bacteria, viruses, or other organisms to determine the progress of a disease or the effectiveness of a medication. Despite its numer- root, you don't have to use numbers when enumerating. For students of government and law, the "enumerated powers" are the specific responsibilities of the Congress, as listed in the U.S. Constitution; these are the only powers that Congress has, a fact that the Tenth Amendment makes even more clearly.