Definitions for enforce
ɛnˈfɔrs, -ˈfoʊrsen·force

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. enforce, implement, applyverb

   ensure observance of laws and rules

   "Apply the rules to everyone";

2. enforce, imposeverb

   compel to behave in a certain way

   "Social relations impose courtesy"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. enforceverb

   To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc.

2. enforceverb

   To intensify, make stronger, add force to.

3. enforceverb

   To exert oneself, to try hard.

4. enforceverb

   To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize.

   The victim was able to enforce his evidence against the alleged perpetrator.

5. enforceverb

   To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force.

6. enforceverb

   To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force.

   The police are there to enforce the law.

7. Etymology: From enforcier, from infortiare, from in- + fortis.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Enforcenoun

   Power; strength.

   Etymology: from force.

   He now defies thee thrice to single fight,
   As a petty enterprise of small enforce. John Milton, Agonistes.

2. To Enforceverb

   Etymology: enforcir, French.

   1. To give strength to; to strengthen; to invigorate.2. To make or gain by force.

   The idle stroke, enforcing furious way,
   Missing the mark of his misaimed sight,
   Did fall to ground. Fairy Queen, b. i. cant.
   8. stan. 8.

   3. To put in act by violence.

   Sker away as swift as stones
   Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. William Shakespeare, Henry V.

   4. To instigate; to provoke; to urge on; to animate.

   Fear gave her wings, and rage enforc’d my flight
   Through woods and plains. Fairy Queen, b. ii. cant. 4.

   If you knew to whom you shew this honour,
   I know you would be prouder of the work,
   Than customary bounty can enforce you. William Shakespeare, Merch. of Ven.

   5. To urge with energy.

   Let them assemble;
   And, on a safer judgment, all revoke
   Your ignorant election; enforce his pride,
   And his old hate to you. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   He prevailed with him, by enforcing the ill consequence of his refusal to take the office, which would be interpreted to his dislike of the court. Edward Hyde.

   To avoid all appearance of disaffection, I have taken care to enforce loyalty by an invincible argument. Jonathan Swift.

   6. To compel; to constrain.

   For competence of life I will allow you,
   That lack of means enforce you not to evil. William Shakespeare, H. IV.

   A just disdain conceived by that queen, that so wicked a rebel should prevail against her, did move and almost enforce her to send over that mighty army. John Davies, on Ireland.

   7. To press with a charge. Little used.

   In this point charge him home, that he affects
   Tyrannick pow’r: if he evade us there,
   Enforce him with his envy to the people,
   And that the spoil got on the Antiates
   Was ne’er distributed. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

3. To Enforceverb

   To prove; to evince; to shew beyond contradiction.

   Which laws in such case we must obey, unless there be reason shewed, which may necessarily enforce that the law of reason, or of God, doth enjoin the contrary. Richard Hooker, b. i.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. enforce

   Enforcement is the process of ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, rules, standards, or social norms.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Enforceverb

   to put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel; as, to enforce obedience to commands

2. Enforceverb

   to make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a passage

3. Enforceverb

   to put in motion or action by violence; to drive

4. Enforceverb

   to give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy; as, to enforce arguments or requests

5. Enforceverb

   to put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to execute with vigor; as, to enforce the laws

6. Enforceverb

   to urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon

7. Enforceverb

   to attempt by force

8. Enforceverb

   to prove; to evince

9. Enforceverb

   to strengthen; to grow strong

10. Enforcenoun

    force; strength; power

11. Etymology: [OF. enforcier to strengthen, force, F. enforcir; pref. en- (L. in) + F. force. See Force.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Enforce

   en-fōrs′, v.t. to gain by force: to give force to: to put in force: to give effect to: to urge: (Spens.) to attempt.—adj. Enforce′able.—adv. Enforc′edly, by violence, not by choice.—n. Enforce′ment, act of enforcing: compulsion: a giving effect to: that which enforces. [O. Fr. enforcer—en (=L. in), and force.]

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'enforce' in Verbs Frequency: #720

How to pronounce enforce?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say enforce in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of enforce in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of enforce in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of enforce in a Sentence

1. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:

   We support the calls of democracy and freedom by the people of Venezuela, i call on President Obama and the State Department to vigorously enforce the sanctions against Venezuelan officials swiftly.

2. Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena:

   Both departments [HFD and HPD]are working diligently to enforce the spirit of the countys stay-home order, the complaint was resolved via notice of violation as required by the countys order.

3. Laura Orsi:

   There are so many young girls, parents, and teachers who feel inspired, a lot of my peers are shocked about how far this has all gone, but theyre excited. My school administrators, although they still have to enforce the rules, are on board, OK with us protesting, and just want us to have an educational environment we are safe and happy in.

4. The Kentucky senator:

   It is hard for me not to use profanity in describing it, we should be using the leverage of the debt ceiling to actually enforce spending restraint.

5. Cory Booker:

   We need a president that's going to enforce anti-trust laws in this country, and I will be that person.

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