impose Meaning & Definition
What Does Impose Mean?
As a verb, impose means To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set. To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc. To lay (columns or pages of type, or printing plates) arranged in a proper order on the bed of a press or an imposing stone and secure them in a chase in preparation for printing. To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb sense 1.2.2) with authority. It can also mean To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set. To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc. To lay (columns or pages of type, or printing plates) arranged in a proper order on the bed of a press or an imposing stone and secure them in a chase in preparation for printing. As a noun, it means An act of placing or putting on something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, a task, etc.; an imposition.
Impose at a Glance
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ɪmˈpəʊz/ |
| Synonyms | enforce, visit and levy |
| Plural | imposes |
| Verb forms | imposes, imposing, imposed |
Impose Definition (Verb)
- To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set.
To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc.
To lay (columns or pages of type, or printing plates) arranged in a proper order on the bed of a press or an imposing stone and secure them in a chase in preparation for printing.
To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb sense 1.2.2) with authority.
Congress imposed new tariffs.
- To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set. To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc. To lay (columns or pages of type, or printing plates) arranged in a proper order on the bed of a press or an imposing stone and secure them in a chase in preparation for printing.
- To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc.
- To lay (columns or pages of type, or printing plates) arranged in a proper order on the bed of a press or an imposing stone and secure them in a chase in preparation for printing.
- To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb sense 1.2.2) with authority.
Congress imposed new tariffs.
- To place or put (something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, an encumbrance, a penalty, etc.) on another thing or on someone; to inflict, to repose; also, to place or put (on someone a chiefly immaterial thing, especially something regarded as burdensome).
Social relations impose courtesy.
- To force or put (a thing) on someone or something by deceit or stealth; to foist, to obtrude.
- To subject (a student) to imposition (“a task inflicted as punishment”).
- To appoint (someone) to be in authority or command over other people.
- To accuse someone of (a crime, or a sin or other wrongdoing); to charge, to impute.
- To put (a conclusion or end) to something definitively.
- Chiefly followed by on or upon.
To affect authoritatively or forcefully; to influence strongly.
To encroach or intrude, especially in a manner regarded as unfair or unwarranted; to presume, to take advantage of; also, to be a burden or inconvenience.
I don’t wish to impose upon you.
- To affect authoritatively or forcefully; to influence strongly.
- To encroach or intrude, especially in a manner regarded as unfair or unwarranted; to presume, to take advantage of; also, to be a burden or inconvenience.
I don’t wish to impose upon you.
- To practise deceit or stealth; to cheat, to deceive, to trick.
- To subject to an impost, levy, tax, etc.
Impose as a Noun
- An act of placing or putting on something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, a task, etc.; an imposition.
Verb
- To establish or apply by authority.
Congress imposed new tariffs.
- To be an inconvenience (on or upon)
I don't wish to impose upon you.
- To enforce: compel to behave in a certain way
Social relations impose courtesy
- To practice a trick or deception (on or upon).
- To lay on, as the hands, in the religious rites of confirmation and ordination.
- To arrange in proper order on a table of stone or metal and lock up in a chase for printing; said of columns or pages of type, forms, etc.
Synonyms of Impose
Impose synonyms and antonyms →Impose in a Sentence
Congress imposed new tariffs.
Sanctions were imposed on the country that had made an unprovoked attack on its neighbour.
Social relations impose courtesy.
I don’t wish to impose upon you.
I don't wish to impose upon you.
Social relations impose courtesy
Word Forms & Grammar
impose (third-person singular simple present imposes, present participle imposing, simple past and past participle imposed)
impose (plural imposes)
Words That Rhyme With Impose
Origin of Impose
Origin 1: The verb is derived from Late Middle English imposen (“to place, set; to impose (a duty, etc.)”),[1] borrowed from Middle French imposer, and Old French emposer, enposer (“to impose (a duty, tax, etc.)”) (modern French imposer), from im-, em- (variants of en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’)) + poser (“to place, put”), modelled after:[2]
Origin 2: The noun is derived from the verb.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions About Impose
Is impose a verb or a noun?
Impose is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for impose?
You can replace impose with words such as enforce, visit and levy. See the full list of impose synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of impose?
The plural of impose is imposes.
What is the past tense of impose?
The past tense of impose is imposed. The present participle is imposing.