verb · formal

impose

UK/ɪmˈpəʊz/US/ɪmˈpoʊz/im·POSE

Band 7+speakingtask2

to force a rule, tax, punishment, or belief to be accepted or put in place

Examples

The government imposed new taxes to raise revenue.

Parents shouldn't impose their career choices on their children.

The school imposed a ban on phones during lessons.

Band 8 sentence

To curb the epidemic, authorities temporarily imposed travel restrictions and fines for non-compliance.

Collocations

  • impose on
  • impose a ban/restriction/tax

Word family

imposition nounimposing adj

Common mistakes

The teacher imposed homework to the students.The teacher imposed homework on the students.

They were imposed a fine.They were imposed with a fine. / A fine was imposed on them.

Say it for a higher band

5force6require7+impose

Synonyms

enforce

Easily confused

enforce

The police enforce traffic laws in the city centre.

Related words

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In Sublist 5

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