English Meaning & Definitions
To give someone or something the authority or means to do something; to make possible.
- “This scholarship will enable her to attend university.”
- “New software was installed to enable faster processing speeds.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “enable”.
Derived from Middle English, formed from the prefix en- (meaning 'to put in or into', or 'to make') + able (from Old French habile, meaning 'capable' or 'fit', from Latin habilis). The verb literally translates to 'to make able'.
Think of 'en-' (to make) + 'able' (capable). To enable someone is to make them able to do something.
Frequently Asked Questions About “enable”
1. What is the meaning of “enable” in English?
In English, enable (verb) is defined as: “To give someone or something the authority or means to do something; to make possible.”.
2. How do you use “enable” in a sentence?
“This scholarship will enable her to attend university.”
3. What are English synonyms of “enable”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “enable”?
Derived from Middle English, formed from the prefix en- (meaning 'to put in or into', or 'to make') + able (from Old French habile, meaning 'capable' or 'fit', from Latin habilis). The verb literally translates to 'to make able'.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.