impose

verb

im·​pose im-ˈpōz 

imposed; imposing

transitive verb

1

a

: to establish or apply by authority

impose a tax

impose new restrictions

impose penalties

b

: to establish or bring about as if by force

… one senses a touching attempt to impose some semblance of domestic normalcy.

—David Wild

2

a

: to force someone to accept (something)

imposed her will on her subjects

imposes his personal beliefs on his employees

b

: to force into the company or on the attention of another

impose oneself on others

3

a

archaic : place, set

b

: to arrange (type, pages, etc.) in the proper order for printing

4

: pass off

impose fake antiques on the public

intransitive verb

: to take unwarranted advantage of something

I didn't want to impose on his good nature.

imposer noun

Did you know?

The Latin imposui meant "put upon", and that meaning carried over into English in impose. A CEO may impose a new manager on one of the company's plants. A state may impose new taxes on luxury items or cigarettes, and the federal government sometimes imposes trade restrictions on another country to punish it. A polite apology might begin with "I hope I'm not imposing on you" (that is, "forcing my presence on you"). And a self-imposed deadline is one that you decide to hold yourself to.

Synonyms of impose

• levy
• charge
• fine
• put
• assess

Examples of impose in a Sentence

The judge imposed a life sentence.

I needed to break free from the limits imposed by my own fear of failure.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meta agreed to impose changes including a default two-hour daily time limit for teens across Facebook and Instagram, muted notifications during school hours, and enhanced parental controls, with more updates potentially on the horizon. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Kavanagh also alleges that Sky imposed changes on Love’s annual accounts to create a flattering financial picture by booking margin on incomplete projects early. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026

Plaintiffs are so far hard to find Trump’s other tools to impose his protectionist agenda have already floundered in court. — Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Whatever term the Court, in its wisdom, imposes, my transformation is already underway. — Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French imposer, from Latin imponere, literally, to put upon (perfect indicative imposui), from in- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing impose

• impose one's will

Rhymes for impose

• aloes
• arose
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• compos
• compose
• crossbows
• demos
• depose

Kids Definition

impose

verb

im·​pose im-ˈpōz 

imposed; imposing

1

a

: to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

impose a fine

impose a tax

b

: to force somebody to accept or put up with

impose one's will on another

2

: to take unfair advantage

impose on a friend's good nature

imposer noun