What does "enable" mean?

1. (to make possible) to give someone the ability, tools, or opportunity to do something. 2. (to activate a feature) to turn on a specific function or setting on a computer, phone, or machine. 3. (to encourage bad behaviour) to make it easier for someone to continue doing something harmful or wrong, often by helping them too much.

How do you use "enable"?

Usually follows the pattern: enable + object + to + verb.

Is it correct to say "The new law enables to travel more easily."?

No — say "The new law enables people to travel more easily.". The verb 'enable' requires a direct object (the person or thing being helped) before the 'to' part of the sentence.

enable

US //ɛˈneɪbəɫ// UK //ɛnˈeɪbəl// en·able

1 to make possible (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate General-service

to give someone the ability, tools, or opportunity to do something.

to provide the means, authority, or opportunity for an agent to perform an action. Transitive; typically followed by an object and a to-infinitive.

Example

The new scholarship will enable her to finish her university degree.

Example

The implementation of high-speed rail will enable commuters to reach the city centre in under twenty minutes, significantly reducing traffic congestion.

Usage

Usually follows the pattern: enable + object + to + verb.
Pitfall

The new law enables to travel more easily.

The new law enables people to travel more easily.

The verb 'enable' requires a direct object (the person or thing being helped) before the 'to' part of the sentence.
2 to activate a feature (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

to turn on a specific function or setting on a computer, phone, or machine.

to activate or make a specific electronic or mechanical function operational.

Example

You need to enable cookies in your browser settings to view this website.

Example

The administrator must enable the remote-access protocol before the engineering team can troubleshoot the server from the branch office.
- activate
- turn on
- initialise
- disable
- deactivate

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3 to encourage bad behaviour (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to make it easier for someone to continue doing something harmful or wrong, often by helping them too much.

to behave in a manner that facilitates or encourages another person's destructive or problematic behaviour, often unintentionally.

Example

By paying his debts, his parents were actually enabling his gambling habit.

Example

Psychologists argue that by constantly making excuses for his outbursts, the staff were enabling his toxic leadership style rather than addressing the root cause.

Teacher's tip

This sense is often used in the context of addiction or psychology to describe a well-meaning person who accidentally helps a person stay in a bad situation.
- facilitate
- permit
- intervene
- stop

Origin

From Middle English enablen, equivalent to en- + able.

Word family

Verbenable
Nounenabler