enforce
(redirected from enforces)Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.
en·force
(ĕn-fôrs′)tr.v. en·forced, en·forc·ing, en·forc·es
1. To compel observance of or obedience to: enforce a law.
2. To impose (a kind of behavior, for example): enforce military discipline.
3. To give force to; reinforce: "enforces its plea with a description of the pains of hell" (Albert C. Baugh).
[Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, to exert force, compel, and from enforcir, to strengthen : en-, causative pref.; see en-1 + force, strength; see force.]
en·force′a·bil′i·ty n.
en·force′a·ble adj.
en·force′ment n.
en·forc′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
enforce
(ɪnˈfɔːs)vb (tr)
1. to ensure observance of or obedience to (a law, decision, etc)
2. to impose (obedience, loyalty, etc) by or as by force
3. to emphasize or reinforce (an argument, demand, etc)
enˈforceable adj
enˌforceaˈbility n
enforcedly adv
enˈforcement n
enˈforcer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
en•force
(ɛnˈfɔrs, -ˈfoʊrs)v.t. -forced, -forc•ing.
1. to put or keep in force; compel obedience to: to enforce a law.
2. to obtain by force or compulsion; compel: to enforce obedience.
3. to impose (a course of action) upon a person.
4. to support by force.
5. to impress or urge forcibly.
[1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French enforcer, Old French enforcier, enforc(ir)=en- en-1 + forci(e)r to force]
en•force′a•ble, adj.
en•force`a•bil′i•ty, n.
en•forc′ed•ly, adv.
en•force′ment, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
enforce
Past participle: enforced
Gerund: enforcing
| Imperative |
|---|
| enforce |
| enforce |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. |  enforce - ensure observance of laws and rules; "Apply the rules to everyone";compel, obligate, oblige - force somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form" execute, run - carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine; "Run the dishwasher"; "run a new program on the Mac"; "the computer executed the instruction" execute - carry out the legalities of; "execute a will or a deed" |
| 2. | enforce - compel to behave in a certain way; "Social relations impose courtesy" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
enforce
verb
1. carry out, apply, implement, fulfil, execute, administer, put into effect, put into action, put into operation, put in force The measures are being enforced by Interior Ministry troops.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
enforce
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَفْرِض، يُلْزِم
gennemtvingehåndhæve
framfylgja
vykdymas
ieviest/iedzīvināt
uveljaviti
enforce
[ɪnˈfɔːs] VT1. (= make effective) [+ law] → hacer cumplir; [+ argument] → imponer; [+ claim] → hacer valer; [+ rights] → hacer respetar; [+ demand] → insistir en; [+ sentence] → ejecutar
2. (= compel) [+ obedience, attendance] → imponer (on a)
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
enforce
[ɪnˈfɔːrs] vt (= impose) [+ rule, law] → appliquer; [+ ban] → imposer; [+ ceasefire, embargo] → décréterCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
enforce
vt
→ durchführen, Geltung verschaffen (+dat); one’s claims, rights → geltend machen; discipline → sorgen für, schaffen; decision, policy, ban, ruling → durchsetzen; measures → durchführen; sanctions → verhängen; the police enforce the law → die Polizei sorgt für die Einhaltung der Gesetze; to enforce silence/obedience → sich (dat) → Ruhe/Gehorsam verschaffen; to enforce something (up)on somebody → jdm etw aufzwingen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
enforce
[ɪnˈfɔːs] vt (decision, policy) → attuare; (law, regulation) → far osservare, far rispettare; (obedience) → imporre; (argument) → rafforzareCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
enforce
(inˈfoːs) verb to cause (a law, a command, one's own will etc) to be carried out. There is a law against dropping litter but it is rarely enforced.
enˈforcement nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
enforce
v. [rules, law] hacer cumplir;
___ the law → hacer cumplir la ley.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012