impose

im·pose

Use impose in a sentence

verb

The definition of impose is to go somewhere where you aren't welcome or to force beliefs or ideas on other people.

An example of impose is when you show up unannounced at a wedding to which you weren't invited.
An example of impose is when you make other people sit and listen to your sermons and try forcefully to get them to believe in your religion.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"impose." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/IMPose>.

APA Style

impose. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/IMPose

impose

transitive verb

-·posed′, -·pos′ing

to place or set (a burden, tax, fine, etc. on or upon) as by authority
to force (oneself, one's presence or will, etc.) on another or others without right or invitation; obtrude
to pass off; foist, esp. by deception: to impose false cures on unsuspecting patients
to arrange (pages of type or plates) in a frame in the proper order of printing
Archaic to place; put; deposit
to lay (the hands) on, as in ordaining

Origin of impose

Fr, altered by associated, association with poser (see pose) from Classical Latin imponere, to place upon from in-, on + ponere: see position

impose Idioms

impose on

to take advantage of; put to some trouble or use unfairly for one's own benefit
to cheat or defraud

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"impose." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/IMPose>.

APA Style

impose. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/IMPose

impose

verb

im·posed, im·pos·ing, im·pos·es

verb

transitive

To establish or apply as compulsory; levy: impose a tax.
To bring about by authority or force; force to prevail: impose a peace settlement.
To obtrude or force (oneself, for example) on another or others.
Printing To arrange (type or plates) on an imposing stone.
To offer or circulate fraudulently; pass off: imposed a fraud on consumers.

verb

intransitive

To force oneself on or take unfair advantage of others: You are always imposing on their generosity.

Origin of impose

Middle English imposen from Old French imposer alteration ( influenced by poser to put, place ) of Latin impōnere to place upon in- on ; see in- ². pōnere to place ; see apo- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

im·pos′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"impose." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/IMPose>.

APA Style

impose. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/IMPose

Verb

(third-person singular simple present imposes, present participle imposing, simple past and past participle imposed)

To establish or apply by authority.
Congress imposed new tariffs.
- 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012):
  Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting. In Monmouth, Ocean and other counties, people waited for hours for gasoline at the few stations that had electricity. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare.
(intransitive) to be an inconvenience
I don't wish to impose upon you.
to enforce: compel to behave in a certain way
Social relations impose courtesy
To practice a trick or deception.
To lay on, as the hands, in the religious rites of confirmation and ordination.
To arrange in proper order on a table of stone or metal and lock up in a chase for printing; said of columns or pages of type, forms, etc.

Origin

From Middle French imposer (“to lay on, impose”), taking the place of Latin imponere (“to lay on, impose”), from in (“on, upon”) + ponere (“to put place”).

See also: imposé

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.