enable
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The new scholarship will enable her to finish her university degree.”
In context“The implementation of high-speed rail will enable commuters to reach the city centre in under twenty minutes, significantly reducing traffic congestion.”
UsageUsually follows the pattern: enable + object + to + verb.
PitfallThe 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.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“You need to enable cookies in your browser settings to view this website.”
In context“The administrator must enable the remote-access protocol before the engineering team can troubleshoot the server from the branch office.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“By paying his debts, his parents were actually enabling his gambling habit.”
In context“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 tipThis 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.
Synonyms
Usage analysis enable · approach enable · enable comparison
From Middle English enablen, equivalent to en- + able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.