English Reference

Word

enabling

Phoneticsen·abling

US/ɛˈneɪbəɫɪŋ/

UK/ɛnˈeɪblɪŋ/

Definitions

01making something possible

B2

v. the act of giving someone the tools, rights, or ability to do something.

v. the present participle of 'enable', describing the process of providing the means or opportunity to achieve a goal.

“The new software is enabling our team to work much faster than before.”

“By providing micro-loans to local entrepreneurs, the charity is enabling sustainable economic growth within the rural community.”

Usage

Often followed by an object and a 'to' infinitive.

02providing ability

C1

adj. describing something that allows a process or activity to happen.

adj. functioning as an attributive adjective to describe a factor, technology, or environment that facilitates a specific outcome.

“The government passed an enabling law to help the project start quickly.”

“Cloud computing serves as an enabling technology that allows small businesses to compete with global corporations on a technical level.”

Academic

Synonyms

empoweringfacilitative

Antonyms

03the act of making possible

C1

n. the process of making an action or a system work.

n. the gerundial use of the word, referring to the abstract act or instance of providing capability or permission.

“The enabling of these new features required a complete system update.”

“The successful enabling of the treaty depended on the cooperation of all regional stakeholders during the final negotiations.”

Formal

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“It goes to show that made-up languages can have very different purposes, ranging from enabling international communication to building a rich, believable imaginary world.”
Phys.org · 12 Aug 2026
“We exposed a Kurdish gang that was enabling migrants to work illegally in mini-marts the length of Britain, by offering to put their own names to official paperwork.”
BBC News · 7 Jun 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/enabling

English Reference