Impose

To force a rule, tax, burden, or other obligation to be accepted or put in place by authority; to burden someone with something unwelcome.

verb

Impose

To force a rule, tax, burden, or other obligation to be accepted or put in place by authority; to burden someone with something unwelcome.

verb

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Imagine This

Imagine a city council votes to impose a new recycling tax. The moment the vote passes, every shopper notices higher prices and new receipts listing the tax, while residents grumble about being required to pay for programs they didn’t choose.

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Sounds Like

im-POHZ

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Looks Like

Looks like im + pose, suggesting placing something on someone

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Remember This

Common collocations include impose a tax, impose a rule, impose a burden, or impose restrictions. The noun forms are imposition and imposer.

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Other Forms

impositionnoun

imposernoun

imposableadjective

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Connect With

enforce, levy, mandate, burden, foist

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Note

Impose can take a direct object (an object being imposed) or be followed by on/upon to indicate the person affected. Distinguish from inflict (which emphasizes harm) and from ‘allow’ or ‘permit’ (antonyms). Tip: When you hear ‘impose,’ think of placing a rule or burden on others as if you’re placing something on their shoulders.

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