enforce

UK: /ɪnˈfɔː^rs/ US: /ɛnˈfɔrs/ ,(en fôrs′, -fōrs′)

Inflections of 'enforce' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

enforces

v 3rd person singular

enforcing

v pres p

enforced

v past

enforced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

en•force /ɛnˈfɔrs/   v. [~ + object] , -forced /-ˈfɔrst/  -forc•ing. 

1. to put or keep in force;
   force obedience to:
   The police tried to enforce the new law.
2. to obtain by force;
   compel:
   to enforce obedience.

en•forced, adj.: 

an enforced curfew.

en•force•ment, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

en•force  (en fôrs′, -fōrs′), v.t., -forced, -forc•ing. 

1. to put or keep in force; compel obedience to:
   to enforce a rule; Traffic laws will be strictly enforced.
2. to obtain (payment, obedience, etc.) by force or compulsion.
3. to impose (a course of action) upon a person:
   The doctor enforced a strict dietary regimen.
4. to support (a demand, claim, etc.) by force:
   to enforce one's rights as a citizen.
5. to impress or urge (an argument, contention, etc.) forcibly;
   lay stress upon:
   He enforced his argument by adding details.

• Anglo-French enforcer, Old French enforcier, enforc(ir), equivalent. to en- en-¹ + forci(e)r to force
• Middle English enforcen 1275–1325

en•force′a•ble, adj. 
en•force′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
en•forc•ed•ly  (en fôr′sid lē, -fōr′-), adv.  en•forc′er, n. 
en•forc′ive, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. administer, impose, execute, apply.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

enforce / ɪnˈfɔːs/ verb (transitive)

1. to ensure observance of or obedience to (a law, decision, etc)
2. to impose (obedience, loyalty, etc) by or as by force
3. to emphasize or reinforce (an argument, demand, etc)

enˈforceable adjective

enˌforceaˈbility noun

enforcedly / ɪnˈfɔːsɪdlɪ/ adverb

enˈforcement noun

enˈforcer noun