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⇱ impose - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


impose

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪmˈpəʊz/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ɪmˈpoʊz/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(im pōz)

Inflections of 'impose' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
imposes
v 3rd person singular
imposing
v pres p
imposed
v past
imposed
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
im•pose /ɪmˈpoʊz/USA pronunciation   v., -posed, -pos•ing. 
  1. to apply by authority;
    force the acceptance of:[+ object]to impose taxes.
  2. to thrust (oneself) impolitely upon others: [no object]Are you sure I'm not imposing, because I can come back later.[+ on + object]She imposed on the boss for some help.[+ oneself]to impose oneself uninvited.
im•pos•er, n. [countable]See -pos-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
im•pose  (im pōz),USA pronunciation v., -posed, -pos•ing. 
v.t. 
  1. to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc.:to impose taxes.
  2. to put or set by or as if by authority:to impose one's personal preference on others.
  3. to obtrude or thrust (oneself, one's company, etc.) upon others.
  4. to pass or palm off fraudulently or deceptively:He imposed his pretentious books on the public.
  5. [Print.]to lay (type pages, plates, etc.) in proper order on an imposing stone or the like and secure in a chase for printing.
  6. to lay on or inflict, as a penalty.
  7. [Archaic.]to put or place on something, or in a particular place.
  8. [Obs.]to lay on (the hands) ceremonially, as in confirmation or ordination.

v.i. 
  1. to make an impression on the mind;
    impose one's or its authority or influence.
  2. to obtrude oneself or one's requirements, as upon others:Are you sure my request doesn't impose?
  3. to presume, as upon patience or good nature.
  4. impose on or upon:
    • to thrust oneself offensively upon others;
      intrude.
    • to take unfair advantage of;
      misuse (influence, friendship, etc.).
    • to defraud;
      cheat;
      deceive:A study recently showed the shocking number of confidence men that impose on the public.
  • Middle French imposer, equivalent. to im- im-1 + poser to pose1; see also pose2
  • late Middle English 1475–85
im•posa•ble, adj. 
im•poser, n. 
    3. force, foist.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
impose /ɪmˈpəʊz/ vb
usually followed by on or upon:
  1. (transitive) to establish as something to be obeyed or complied with; enforce
  2. to force (oneself, one's presence, etc) on another or others; obtrude
  3. (intransitive) to take advantage, as of a person or quality: to impose on someone's kindness
  4. (transitive) to arrange (pages) so that after printing and folding the pages will be in the correct order
  5. (transitive) to pass off deceptively; foist
Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French imposer, from Latin impōnere to place upon, from pōnere to place, setimˈposable adj imˈposer n
'impose' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "impose" in the title:

a process on which the healthy cannot <impose>
Accustomed to the 'charge' that they impose lessons ....
attempts to impose the East-mark, the blockade?
charge or impose?
charge with share, assign share to, impose share on
conservatives are the ones who want to impose their values on everyone else
demand\impose extra charge
don't impose your ideas on me
Don't impose your opinions on me
foist/impose/inflict
having to impose vs imposing
implicit confidence which I beg to <impose>
Impose
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impose /make it> a requirement for somebody
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Impose A in B???
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impose and self-impose
impose armed influence
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impose fines
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impose itself
impose long shifts
impose my routine on it, my geography
impose no obligation on those who do it of showing
more...

Look up "impose" at Merriam-Webster
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