Library / English Dictionary

ENFORCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Ensure observance of laws and rules

Example:

Apply the rules to everyone

Synonyms:

apply; enforce; implement

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "enforce" is one way to...):

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enforce"):

execute; run (carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine)

execute (carry out the legalities of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

exempt (grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to)

Derivation:

enforcement (the act of enforcing; ensuring observance of or obedience to)

enforcer (one whose job it is to execute unpleasant tasks for a superior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Compel to behave in a certain way

Example:

duty constrains one to act often contrary to one's desires or inclinations

Synonyms:

constrain; enforce; impose

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "enforce" is one way to...):

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

enforcement (the act of enforcing; ensuring observance of or obedience to)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Then, addressing me, she said, with enforced calmness: My son is ill. Very ill.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Apt scholar that he was, they were equally apt teachers, never allowing him to linger long in error, and enforcing their teaching with their sharp teeth.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Europe has enforced capping regulations and the World Bank has proposed a ‘user fee’ to be imposed on those buying antibiotics for farm animals.

(Eat less meat to cut drug resistance, SciDev.Net)

The campaign had begun during Martin's enforced absence, and was already in full swing.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He is connected with the Mafia, which, as you know, is a secret political society, enforcing its decrees by murder.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Good parenting includes: • Keeping your child safe • Showing affection and listening to your child • Providing order and consistency • Setting and enforcing limits • Spending time with your child • Monitoring your child's friendships and activities • Leading by example

(Parenting, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

In time of peace also the rules of the ring had been of service in enforcing the principles of fair play, and in turning public opinion against that use of the knife or of the boot which was so common in foreign countries.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mrs. Ferrars at first reasonably endeavoured to dissuade him from marrying Miss Dashwood, by every argument in her power;—told him, that in Miss Morton he would have a woman of higher rank and larger fortune;—and enforced the assertion, by observing that Miss Morton was the daughter of a nobleman with thirty thousand pounds, while Miss Dashwood was only the daughter of a private gentleman with no more than THREE; but when she found that, though perfectly admitting the truth of her representation, he was by no means inclined to be guided by it, she judged it wisest, from the experience of the past, to submit—and therefore, after such an ungracious delay as she owed to her own dignity, and as served to prevent every suspicion of good-will, she issued her decree of consent to the marriage of Edward and Elinor.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Meg laughed, for she was glad to see a glimmer of Jo's old spirit, but she felt it her duty to enforce her opinion by every argument in her power, and the sisterly chats were not wasted, especially as two of Meg's most effective arguments were the babies, whom Jo loved tenderly.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He looked at her with a smile, and a little motion of the head, which expressed, Come to me, I have something to say; and the unaffected, easy kindness of manner which denoted the feelings of an older acquaintance than he really was, strongly enforced the invitation.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)