enable

verb

en·​able i-ˈnā-bəl 

enabled; enabling i-ˈnā-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to provide with the means or opportunity

training that enables people to earn a living

b

: to make possible, practical, or easy

a deal that would enable passage of a new law

c

: to cause to operate

software that enables the keyboard

2

: to give legal power, capacity, or sanction to

a law enabling admission of a state

Did you know?

Enabling: The Behavior of an Enabler

Enable has a number of senses, most of which are some variant on allowing someone (or something, such as enabling cookies on a computer) to do something. In the past several decades, enable has also started to take on a new associated sense in the field of addiction studies, where enabling is viewed as giving misguided support to a person with some substance-abuse issue. A person who facilitates the self-destructive behavior of another is referred to as an enabler.

Synonyms

• allow
• empower
• let
• permit

Examples of enable in a Sentence

The machine enables us to create copies without losing quality.

The system enables students to access class materials online.

These choices are part of what enabled the company to be successful.

a filing system that enables easy access to information

Be sure to enable your computer's firewall.

Recent Examples on the Web

This involvement provides them with know-how about the startup way of working while enabling them to contribute their valuable corporate expertise to these emerging companies. —Greg Ombach, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Cold-press juices enable one to partake of the nutrients present in raw fruits, vegetables, and herbs that get lost once the products are heated or cooked. —Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024

Sun Pan believes that China has a complete apparel industry pipeline that starts with raw materials and goes through production processing, logistics distribution, to terminal sales, enabling the completion of the entire process from design to finished product in a relatively short time. —Li Jun, WWD, 1 Oct. 2024

Microsoft is leveraging the NPU chips on new Copilot Plus PCs to enable local search on OneDrive content without having to be connected to the internet. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

enable

verb

en·​able in-ˈā-bəl 

enabled; enabling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to make able

glasses enable you to read

b

: to make possible, practical, or easy

2

: to give legal power or permission to