Definition

1. Verb:
   • To compel observance of or obedience to: To make people obey a rule, law, or agreement.
   • To impose or bring about by force or pressure: To ensure something happens or is accepted, often through authority or insistence.
   • To give greater force or strength to; to emphasize: (Archaic/less common) To strengthen an argument, claim, or point.

Usage and Examples

• Compelling obedience to rules:
  • The police are here to enforce the law.
  • The school strictly enforces its dress code.
• Imposing or ensuring something:
  • The contract enforces a deadline for completion.
  • The manager enforced his decision despite objections.
• (Archaic) Strengthening an argument:
  • He enforced his plea with undeniable evidence.

Advanced Usage

• "to enforce something on/upon someone": To compel someone to accept or comply with something.
  • The new regulations were enforced upon all employees without consultation.
• "self-enforcing": Describing a rule or system that compels compliance through its own design, without needing external authority.
  • The agreement is self-enforcing because both parties benefit from following it.

Variants and Related Words

• Enforceable (adj): Capable of being enforced.
  • The clause is not enforceable in court.
• Enforcement (n): The act of enforcing.
  • Law enforcement officers ensure public safety.
• Enforcer (n): A person or group that ensures rules are obeyed.
  • He was seen as the enforcer of the team's discipline.

Synonyms

• Impose: To establish or apply as compulsory.
• Administer: To ensure the execution of (laws or rules).
• Uphold: To maintain or support a law or principle.
• Implement: To put a decision, plan, or law into effect.

Antonyms

• Repeal: To revoke or annul (a law or act).
• Waive: To refrain from insisting on or applying (a rule or right).
• Neglect: To fail to carry out or enforce.

Related Phrases and Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Enforce" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. The concepts are typically expressed with prepositions like "on" or "upon.") - Enforce compliance: To compel adherence to rules. - The agency's role is to enforce compliance with environmental standards.

Idioms and Fixed Expressions

• To enforce the rules of the game: To ensure that the agreed-upon procedures or standards are followed, often used metaphorically.
  • The referee's job is to enforce the rules of the game fairly.
• Enforce one's will: To impose one's own desires or decisions on others.
  • The dictator used the army to enforce his will on the population.

Verb

1. compel to behave in a certain way
   • Social relations impose courtesy
2. ensure observance of laws and rules;
   • Apply the rules to everyone