Word.ws English Dictionary

impose

Syllables: im·poseUK/ɪmˈpəʊz//ɪmˈpoʊz/

impose verb: to physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set.

Verb

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

  1. (archaic, transitive) To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set.
    • [H]is Svvaine / Strevv'd faire greene Oſiers; and impoſ'd thereon / A good ſoft Sheepeskin, vvhich made him a Throne.1614–1615, Homer, “The Sixteenth Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published...
    • It vvas here likevviſe, in a place vvhere the diſtance betvveen the oppoſite banks cannot exceed five hundred paces, that Xerxes impoſed a ſtupendous bridge of boats, for the purpoſe of tranſporting into Europe an hundred and ſeventy myriads of barbarians.1781, Edward Gibbon, “Foundation of Constantinople—Political System of Constantine, and His Successors—Military Discipline—The Palace—The Finances”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the...
    1. (archaic, transitive) To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc.
      • [Jesus] ſaid to them, Suffer the litle children to come vnto me, and prohibit them not, for the kingdom of God is for ſuch. […] And embracing them, and impoſing hands vpon them, he bleſſed them.1582, The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ: […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Rheims: Iohn Fogny, →OCLC, Marke 10:14 and 16, page 113
      • [W]hen Iſraell bleſſed Ephraim and Manaſſes Ioſephs ſonnes, hee impoſed vpon them his hands and prayed, […]1597, Richard Hooker, “Of Confirmation after Baptisme”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes]...
    2. (archaic, transitive) 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.
      • They [pages] are imposed as follows, the illustration showing how the pages appear in the form. […] 18, 24, 32, and 48mo may be imposed in a similar manner, or may be so imposed as to be cut before folding.1877, Edward H[enry] Knight, “Imposing”, in Knight’s American Mechanical Dictionary. […], volume II (GAS–REA), New York, N.Y.: Hurd and Houghton […], →OCLC, page 1172, column 1
  2. (figuratively, transitive) To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb sense 1.2.2) with authority.
    • Congress imposed new tariffs.
    • Sanctions were imposed on the country that had made an unprovoked attack on its neighbour.
    Synonyms:
    lay
  3. (figuratively, transitive) To place or put (something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, an encumbrance, a penalty, etc.) on another thing or on someone; to inflict, to repose; also, to place or put (on someone a chiefly immaterial thing, especially something regarded as burdensome).
    • Social relations impose courtesy.
    • [T]he courtier that proceeds in his matters, rather with oppinion and obſtinacy, then diſcretion and iudgement; ſhall neuer bee in fauor with the Prince, nor yet beeloued in the court. For it is as neceſſary for the courtier, that will ſeeke the fauor of the prince and loue of the court, to impoſe...1568, Anthony of Gueuara [i.e., Antonio de Guevara], “What Maners and Gestures Beecome the Courtier when Hee Speaketh to the Prince”, in Thomas North, transl., The Dial of Princes. […], revised...
  4. (figuratively, transitive) To force or put (a thing) on someone or something by deceit or stealth; to foist, to obtrude.
    • I went to visite Mr. Ratcliffe, in whose lodging was an impostor that had like to have impos'd upon us a pretended secret of multiplying gold; 'tis certain he had liv'd some time in Paris in extraordinarie splendor, but I found him to be an egregious cheate.1650 December 23 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 14 December 1650]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition...
  5. (UK, figuratively, transitive, school or university slang) To subject (a student) to imposition (“a task inflicted as punishment”).
  6. (archaic, figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To appoint (someone) to be in authority or command over other people.
  7. (figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To accuse someone of (a crime, or a sin or other wrongdoing); to charge, to impute.
    • So, if a Sonne that is by his Father ſent about Merchandize, doe ſinfully miſcarry vpon the Sea; the imputation of his vvickedneſſe, by your rule, ſhould be impoſed vpon his Father that ſent him: […]1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
    • On him the King (in madneſſe ſo enrag'd) / Impoſde my death, himſelfe thereto that gag'd.1605, Michaell Draiton [i.e., Michael Drayton], “The Legend of Matilda”, in Poems: […], London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] Ling, →OCLC, signature Gg3, verso
  8. (figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To put (a conclusion or end) to something definitively.
    • [G]uards vvere held, at all parts, dayes and nights, / For feare of falſe ſurpriſe before, they had impoſde the crovvne / To theſe ſolemnities.[1611?], Homer, “Book XXIIII”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets, […]...
  9. (intransitive) To affect authoritatively or forcefully; to influence strongly.
    • But it is not onely the Difficultie, and Labour, vvhich Men take in finding out of Truth; nor againe, that vvhen it is found, it impoſeth vpon mens Thoughts; that doth bring Lies in fauour: But a naturall, though corrupt Loue, of the Lie it ſelfe.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Truth”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, pages 1–2
    • But I perceive they do think that I know too much, and shall impose upon whomever shall come next, and therefore must be removed, […]1669 April 8 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “March 30th, 1669”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VIII...
  10. (intransitive) 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.
    • I don’t wish to impose upon you.
    • [T]hey do not rob the King of any right he ever had, for he never had a power to do hurt to his people, nor would exercise it: and therefore there is no danger, in the passing this Bill, of imposing on his prerogative; […]1667 January 18 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “January 9th, 1666–1667”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VI...
    Synonyms:
    presume
  11. (intransitive) To practise deceit or stealth; to cheat, to deceive, to trick.
    • Know, that thou imposedst upon my sire and deceivedst him by dint of thy deluding vaunts, so that of his greed for gain he married me to thee.1886, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “Ma’aruf the Cobbler and His Wife Fatimah. [Night 994.]”, in A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled...
  12. (intransitive, obsolete) To subject to an impost, levy, tax, etc.
    • To impoſe upon all things brought into the Kin[g]dome is very ancient: vvhich impoſing vvhen it hath been continued a certain time, is them called Cuſtomes, becauſe the ſubjects are accuſtomed to pay it, and yet the great taxe upon vvine is ſtill called Impoſt, becauſe it vvas impoſed after the...a. 1619 (date written), Walter Raleigh, “The Prerogative of Parliaments in England. Proved in a Dialogue between a Councellour of State, and a Justice of Peace. […]”, in Remains of Sir Walter...
    • [W]hoso rhymes a sonnet pays a tax, / Who paints a landscape dips brush at his cost, / Who scores a septett true for strings and wind / Mulcted must be—else how should I impose / Properly, attitudinize aright, / Did such conflicting claims as these divert / Hohenstiel-Schwangau from observing me?1871 December, Robert Browning, Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society, London: Smith, Elder and Co., →OCLC, page 124

Noun

impose (plural imposes)

  1. (obsolete) An act of placing or putting on something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, a task, etc.; an imposition.
    • According to your Ladiſhips impoſe, / I am thus early come, to knovv vvhat ſeruice / It is your pleaſure to command me in.c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...

impose meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Bengali

impose in Hindi

to apply, enforce, or establish (something) with authority
थोपना thopnā

impose in Tamil

சுமத்து, பொருத்தி அமை, பொருத்து, விதி

impose in Urdu

to impose
لگانا lagānā

impose in Bengali

চাপান, ধার্য করা, অর্পণ করা, ভুলাইয়া বিপথে ঠকান, ভুলাইয়া বিপথে নেওয়া, ধরা
More languagesFewer languages
impose in Telugu
విధించు vidhiñcu
impose in Malayalam
കൈവയ്ക്കുക, വഞ്ചിക്കുക, ചുമത്തുക, നിവേശിപ്പിക്കുക
impose in Kannada
ಹೇರು, ಹೊರಿಸು, ಮೋಸಮಾಡು
impose in Sanskrit
समर्पयति samarpáyati, पतति pátati
impose in Persian
برنهادن barnehâdan

Examples of impose in a sentence

  • In crueltie and outrage ſhe did pas, / To proue her ſurname true, that ſhe impoſed has.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William...
  • Thou on the deep impoſeſt Nobler lavvs, / And by that Juſtice haſt remov'd the cauſe / Of thoſe rude tempeſts vvhich for rapine ſent, / Too oft, alas, involv'd the innocent.1664, Edmond [i.e., Edmund] Waller, “To the King on His Navy”, in Poems, &c. Written upon Several Occasions, and to Several Persons. […]...
  • New Jersey was reeling on Wednesday from the impact of Hurricane Sandy, […] Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting.2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, “New Jersey reels from storm's thrashing”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times...
  • For it is as neceſſary for the courtier, that will ſeeke the fauor of the prince and loue of the court, to impoſe his tongue to ſylence: as it is to dyſpoſe his body to all maner of ſeruyce.1568, Anthony of Gueuara [i.e., Antonio de Guevara], “What Maners and Gestures Beecome the Courtier when Hee Speaketh to the Prince”, in...

All 40 example sentences with impose

Synonyms of impose

All synonyms of impose

Forms of impose

Verb
third-person singular presentimposes
present participleimposing
past participleimposed
pastimposed
second-person singular present (archaic)imposest
second-person singular past (archaic)imposedst
third-person singular present (archaic)imposeth
Noun
pluralimposes

Past tense of impose: imposed

Origin of impose

The verb is derived from Late Middle English imposen (“to place, set; to impose (a duty, etc.)”), borrowed from Middle French imposer, and Old French emposer, enposer (“to impose (a duty, tax, etc.)”) (modern French imposer), from im-, em- (variants of en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’)) + poser (“to place, put”), modelled after: * Latin impōnere (“to place or set (something) on; (figurative) to impose (a duty, tax, etc.)”), from im- (variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘on, upon’)) + pōnō (“to place, put; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂pó, *h₂epó (“away; off”) + *tḱey- (“to cultivate; to live; to settle”)); and * Latin impositus (“established; put upon, imposed”), the perfect passive participle of impōnō: see above. The noun is derived from the verb.

Words formed from impose

Words that rhyme with impose

48 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about impose

What does impose mean?
Impose means to physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set.
What is impose in Hindi?
Impose in Hindi is थोपना (thopnā). See Impose meaning in Hindi.
How do you use impose in a sentence?
In crueltie and outrage ſhe did pas, / To proue her ſurname true, that ſhe impoſed has.
What part of speech is impose?
Impose can be a verb or a noun.
How do you pronounce impose?
Impose is pronounced /ɪmˈpəʊz/ (UK).
What is the past tense of impose?
The past tense of impose is imposed.

Words near impose in the dictionary

  1. importuous
  2. imposability
  3. imposable
  4. imposal
  5. imposals
  6. impose
  7. imposed
  8. imposedst
  9. imposement
  10. imposer
  11. imposers

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: impose (page history and authors); impose (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); لگانا (Urdu) (page history and authors); impose (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); impose (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); impose (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); पतति (Sanskrit) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-impose.ogg.

Cite this entry: “impose.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/impose. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.