enable

verb

To make somebody able (to do, or to be, something); to give sufficient ability or power to do or to be; to give strength or ability to.

To yield the opportunity or provide the possibility for something; to provide with means, opportunities, and the like.

To qualify or approve for some role or position; to render sanction or authorization to; to confirm suitability for.

(chiefly electronics, computing) To activate, to make operational (especially of a function of an electronic or mechanical device).

(electronics) To put a circuit element into action by supplying a suitable input pulse.

To imply or tacitly confer excuse for an action or a behavior.

To affirm; to make firm and strong.

Roots

en-en- · Old French · to make, cause to be habilisable- · Latin · capable, fit

Synonyms for enable

empowerv capacitatev facilitatev authorizev equipv

Synonyms & related words for enable

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of enable — including empower, capacitate, facilitate, authorize, equip. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to enable

Explore words related to enable — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include allows, habilitating, disenable, activate, enabler, allowing, disable, incorporable. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for enable

Common synonyms for enable include empower, capacitate, facilitate, authorize, equip — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does enable come from?

The word enable breaks down into 2 roots of Old French and Latin origin: en-, from Old French en- (“to make, cause to be”); and able, from Latin habilis (“capable, fit”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.