Word
enact
Phoneticsen·act, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪˈnækt/
UK/ɛnˈækt/
Definitions
01to make into law
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
v. to officially make a proposed bill or rule into a law.
v. to establish a bill or decree as law through a formal legislative process. Transitive — requires a direct object such as 'law', 'legislation', or 'reform'.
Español:enactuar
“The government plans to enact new laws to protect the environment next year.”
“The legislature moved swiftly to enact the emergency measures, ensuring that the new regulations took effect before the end of the fiscal quarter.”
02to perform or act out
C1 · Advanced Theater Formal · Literary
v. to perform a story, a play, or a specific action.
v. to represent or perform a role, scene, or action as if in a play. Often used in the context of 're-enacting' historical events.
“The children decided to enact a scene from their favourite book for the class.”
“The historical society gathered every summer to enact the famous battle, using period-accurate costumes and equipment to educate the public.”
03to put into practice
C1 · Advanced Formal · Academic
v. to put a plan or a suggestion into action.
v. to carry out or put into practice a particular plan, idea, or policy.
日本語:実施する※
“It is time for the company to enact the changes we discussed in the meeting.”
“The board of directors struggled to enact the proposed structural reforms due to significant resistance from the regional managers.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “enact” in context.
Verb
01. enact a law
“The government moved quickly to enact a law that protects whistleblowers from retaliation.”
verb + noun
02. enact a scene
“The students were asked to enact a scene from Hamlet to better understand the characters' motivations.”
verb + noun
03. enact legislation
“Parliament is expected to enact legislation regarding carbon emissions by the end of the month.”
verb + noun
04. enact sweeping reforms
“The new administration promised to enact sweeping reforms to the healthcare system within their first year.”
verb + adj + noun
Adverb
05. formally enact
“The treaty was formally enacted after all member states signed the agreement.”
adv + verb
06. legally enact
“Once the bill is legally enacted, it will be binding for all citizens.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a law, bill, or regulation.
Pitfall
The law enacted last year.
The law was enacted last year.
In legal contexts, laws do not enact themselves; the verb must be used in the passive voice when the law is the subject.
Real-World Examples
“Six states had already enacted new laws, while others had considered or failed to pass similar measures.” “If Meta did enact such changes, it would mark a significant alteration to the experience of its platforms.” Etymology
From Middle English enacten, from en-, from Old French en- (“to cause to be”), from Latin in- (“in”) and Old French acte (“perform, do”), from Latin actum, past participle of ago (“set in motion”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/enact
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0