impose

noun

(obsolete) An act of placing or putting on something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, a task, etc.; an imposition.

verb

(transitive) (figurative) To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb, sense 1.2.1) with authority.

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.

(transitive) To affect authoritatively or forcefully; to influence strongly.

(transitive) (Christianity) To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc.

(transitive) (printing) 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.

(transitive) (intransitive) Chiefly followed by on or upon.

(intransitive) Chiefly followed by on or upon.

(transitive) (archaic) To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set.

To practise deceit or stealth; to cheat, to deceive, to trick.

(obsolete) To subject to an impost, levy, tax, etc.

Roots

ponopos- · Latin · put, place

Synonyms for impose

inflictv levyn constrainv obtrudev foistv compelv prescribev obligev dictatev enjoinv

Synonyms & related words for impose

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of impose — including inflict, levy, constrain, obtrude, foist, compel. 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 impose

Explore words related to impose — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include imposer, enforce, reimpose, reimposition, imposition, enjoinder, leviable, enact. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for impose

Common synonyms for impose include inflict, levy, constrain, obtrude, foist, compel, prescribe, oblige — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does impose come from?

The word impose breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pos-, from Latin pono (“put, place”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.