enforce
verb /ɪnˈfɔːs/
/ɪnˈfɔːrs/
Word Family
- force noun verb
- forceful adjective
- forcefully adverb
- forced adjective (≠ unforced)
- forcible adjective
- forcibly adverb
- enforce verb
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they enforce | /ɪnˈfɔːs/ /ɪnˈfɔːrs/ |
| he / she / it enforces | /ɪnˈfɔːsɪz/ /ɪnˈfɔːrsɪz/ |
| past simple enforced | /ɪnˈfɔːst/ /ɪnˈfɔːrst/ |
| past participle enforced | /ɪnˈfɔːst/ /ɪnˈfɔːrst/ |
| -ing form enforcing | /ɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ/ /ɪnˈfɔːrsɪŋ/ |
- to make sure that people obey a particular law or rule
- enforce something It's the job of the police to enforce the law.
- The legislation will be difficult to enforce.
- United Nations troops enforced a ceasefire in the area.
- enforce something against/on somebody/something (formal or law) The creditor should be at liberty to enforce his rights against the company's property.
Extra ExamplesTopics Permission and obligationc1, Law and justicec1- The government may take steps to enforce compliance with the new measures.
- The rules were strictly enforced.
- a system of local inspectors to help enforce presidential decrees
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- fully
- rigidly
- rigorously
- …
- can
- be difficult to
- be hard to
- …
- enforce something (on somebody) to make something happen or force somebody to do something
- You can't enforce cooperation between the players.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the senses ‘strive’ and ‘impel by force’; formerly also as inforce): from Old French enforcir, enforcier, based on Latin in- ‘in’ + fortis ‘strong’.