enforced; enforcing; enforces
1
: to give force to : strengthen
2
: to urge with energy
enforce arguments
4
obsolete
: to effect or gain by force
5
: to carry out effectively
enforce laws
Examples of enforce in a Sentence
Police will be enforcing the parking ban.
the duty of the police is to enforce the law
Recent Examples on the Web
Ensure executives understand the impact of HR processes on business outcomes and support initiatives to enforce adherence.
—
Liz Corey, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
Police Chief Ramon Batista told council members before Tuesday’s vote that the amendments would not change how officers enforce anti-camping laws and interact with the city’s homeless population.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024
But youth sports environments can also perpetuate harmful norms, particularly for boys, when language disparaging LGBTQ people or girls is used to enforce certain masculine stereotypes.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024
China is grappling with a fast-aging population and shrinking labor force after decades of enforcing a one-child policy.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for enforce 
Liz Corey, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
Police Chief Ramon Batista told council members before Tuesday’s vote that the amendments would not change how officers enforce anti-camping laws and interact with the city’s homeless population.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024
But youth sports environments can also perpetuate harmful norms, particularly for boys, when language disparaging LGBTQ people or girls is used to enforce certain masculine stereotypes.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024
China is grappling with a fast-aging population and shrinking labor force after decades of enforcing a one-child policy.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for enforce
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enforce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near enforce
Cite this Entry
“Enforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enforce. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enforce
verb
en·force
in-ˈfō(ə)rs 
-ˈfȯ(ə)rs
1
: to bring about by force : compel
enforce obedience
2
: to carry out effectively
enforce the law
Legal Definition
enforce
transitive verb
en·force
enforced; enforcing
: to cause to take effect or to be fulfilled
enforcing the divorce decree
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation—U.S. Constitution amend. XIX
U.S. Constitution amend. XIXLove words? Need even more definitions?
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