Definition of "enable" []

To supply with the means, knowledge, or opportunity; make able: a hole in the fence that enabled us to watch; techniques that enable surgeons to open and repair the heart. (verb-transitive)
To make feasible or possible: funds that will enable construction of new schools. (verb-transitive)
To give legal power, capacity, or sanction to: a law enabling the new federal agency. (verb-transitive)
To make operational; activate: enabled the computer's modem; enable a nuclear warhead. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "enable" in a sentence

"I understand your need for emphasis to sell, but using the word enable makes it seem like Joe hand-picked the boys for Sandusky."
"She says: The word enable can be contrasted with the word empower."
"It was prohibited to charge for parking here until laws could be written and adopted to again enable charging for parking legally."

Words like "enable"

alter change disable empower

enabled enablement enables enabling

endow endue equip gift

indue invest modify re-enable