impose

verb

im-ˈpōz How to pronounce impose (audio)
Definition of imposenext
as in to levy
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty that state now imposes a fine for text messaging while driving

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impose If a violation is found, schools can impose sanctions up to suspension or expulsion, and both parties have the right to appeal. — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Israel regularly imposes restrictions on movement across the Palestinian occupied territory with some 925 checkpoints, roadblocks, earth mounds and other barriers. — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026 By letting its subjects speak for themselves without imposing judgments, the film offers a poetic view of alternative ways of life. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026 Flight imposes strict weight limits, so birds pack enormous numbers of very small neurons into very small brains. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impose
  1. levy
  2. charge
  3. fine
  4. put
  5. assess
Verb
  • Hummel said the wildfire-risk data analysis is expected to cost $60,000 and Boise Fire hopes to fund it through the city’s open spaces levy money.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The same allegations, levied by his own senior staff, led to a federal investigation.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of levy
Verb
  • Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • And one health care consultancy that finds doctors and mental health care for wealthy families charges retainers starting at $30,000 for 50 hours.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of charge
Verb
  • Right now, a candidate who violates campaign finance law is fined $250, while a political action committee is fined $2,500.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The team was fined $30 million and lost five consecutive draft picks from 2029 through 2033 as punishment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fine
Verb
  • After the break, Colleyville Heritage wide receiver Trevi Preische’s 10-yard TD reception helped the Panthers make some progress, but a 23-yard score from Caldwell put Argyle’s lead back to three-scores.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Congress answered with the Air Commerce Act of 1926, which put the Commerce Department in charge of commercial flight.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of put
Verb
  • Analysts assessing China’s September 2025 weapons display cautioned that questions about operational capabilities remained.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • On top of that, BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave the Knights a fresh set of downs and moved them up to the BYU 28-yard line.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of assess

Phrases Containing impose

Browse Nearby Words

importunity
impose
imposed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impose. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All