enabled; enabling
i-ˈnā-b(ə-)liŋ 
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.
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
Meanwhile, in February, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued new clinical guidelines enabling earlier diagnosis of endometriosis without surgery, a step toward addressing the delays Waters described.
—
Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Unlike conventional industrial automation, the system requires no custom tooling and supports mixed-model production, enabling faster changeovers and significantly reducing downtime.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
Competitiveness enables businesses to keep more of their revenue, while a steady tax system allows companies to build a thriving future.
—Blanche Lincoln, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
RapidSOS provided Manchester Dispatch with high-accuracy GPS coordinates that put rescuers within feet of the victim in subzero conditions, enabling a grueling multi-agency carry-down operation that saved the hiker’s life.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enable
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Unlike conventional industrial automation, the system requires no custom tooling and supports mixed-model production, enabling faster changeovers and significantly reducing downtime.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
Competitiveness enables businesses to keep more of their revenue, while a steady tax system allows companies to build a thriving future.
—Blanche Lincoln, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
RapidSOS provided Manchester Dispatch with high-accuracy GPS coordinates that put rescuers within feet of the victim in subzero conditions, enabling a grueling multi-agency carry-down operation that saved the hiker’s life.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enable
Cite this Entry
“Enable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enable. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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