impose

verb

im·​pose im-ˈpōz How to pronounce impose (audio)
imposed; imposing

transitive verb

1
a
: to establish or apply by authority
impose a tax
impose new restrictions
impose penalties
b
: to establish or bring about as if by force
those limits imposed by our own inadequaciesC. H. Plimpton
2
: to force into the company or on the attention of another
impose oneself on others
3
a
: place, set
b
: to arrange (type, pages, etc.) in the proper order for printing
4
: pass off
impose fake antiques on the public

intransitive verb

: to take unwarranted advantage of something
imposed on his good nature
imposer noun

Did you know?

The Latin imposui meant "put upon", and that meaning carried over into English in impose. A CEO may impose a new manager on one of the company's plants. A state may impose new taxes on luxury items or cigarettes, and the federal government sometimes imposes trade restrictions on another country to punish it. A polite apology might begin with "I hope I'm not imposing on you" (that is, "forcing my presence on you"). And a self-imposed deadline is one that you decide to hold yourself to.

Examples of impose in a Sentence

The judge imposed a life sentence. I needed to break free from the limits imposed by my own fear of failure.
Recent Examples on the Web China also had imposed stricter export controls on its technology providers. Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Biden’s administration also imposed restrictions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank in February. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Some Palestinian Muslims fear that Israel might impose additional restrictions during Ramadan on access to Al Aqsa Mosque, part of an area that is sacred for both Muslims and Jews. Politics Biden will propose his 2025 fiscal budget today. David Leonhardt, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Funding levels vary between Wisconsin school districts because state lawmakers in 1993 imposed caps on how much tax revenue districts could collect. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 The forgetting model also fared much better if the team imposed computational limits during retraining. Amos Zeeberg, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024 The film follows a group of high-school juniors navigating the apocalyptic conditions imposed by a mass machine revolt. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 The other bills signed by Inslee last year included one banning the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles and another imposing a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases. Gene Johnson, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 Rudy Gobert is still an imposing presence in his 11th NBA season. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French imposer, from Latin imponere, literally, to put upon (perfect indicative imposui), from in- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of impose was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near impose

Cite this Entry

“Impose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impose. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

impose

verb
im·​pose im-ˈpōz How to pronounce impose (audio)
imposed; imposing
1
a
: to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
impose a fine
impose a tax
b
: to force somebody to accept or put up with
impose one's will on another
2
: to take unfair advantage
impose on a friend's good nature
imposer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impose

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