enabled; enabling
i-ˈnā-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to provide with the means or opportunity
training that enables people to earn a living
b
: to make possible, practical, or easy
a deal that would enable passage of a new law
c
: to cause to operate
software that enables the keyboard
2
: to give legal power, capacity, or sanction to
a law enabling admission of a state
Did you know?
Enabling: The Behavior of an Enabler
Enable has a number of senses, most of which are some variant on allowing someone (or something, such as enabling cookies on a computer) to do something. In the past several decades, enable has also started to take on a new associated sense in the field of addiction studies, where enabling is viewed as giving misguided support to a person with some substance-abuse issue. A person who facilitates the self-destructive behavior of another is referred to as an enabler.
Examples of enable in a Sentence
The machine enables us to create copies without losing quality.
The system enables students to access class materials online.
These choices are part of what enabled the company to be successful.
a filing system that enables easy access to information
Be sure to enable your computer's firewall.
Recent Examples on the Web
This significantly simplifies the communications process and enables a holistic view of employee engagement.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Between now and then, name and shame the DAs and judges who enable murder, rape and robbery.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The new structure also enables Gill to foster meaningful change at the C-suites with the launch of Executive Search, a new division that provides bespoke talent acquisition solutions to help place diverse leaders in decision-making roles across the luxury and lifestyle industries.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
The method also enables the placement of dense computational points in critical areas, such as the tire-road contact or the closure of heart valve leaflets.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enable
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Between now and then, name and shame the DAs and judges who enable murder, rape and robbery.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The new structure also enables Gill to foster meaningful change at the C-suites with the launch of Executive Search, a new division that provides bespoke talent acquisition solutions to help place diverse leaders in decision-making roles across the luxury and lifestyle industries.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
The method also enables the placement of dense computational points in critical areas, such as the tire-road contact or the closure of heart valve leaflets.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enable
Cite this Entry
“Enable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enable. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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