# enact

/ɪˈnækt/ (US) · /ɛnˈækt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/enact
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to make into law

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to officially make a proposed bill or rule into a law.

For teachers: to establish a bill or decree as law through a formal legislative process. Transitive — requires a direct object such as 'law', 'legislation', or 'reform'.

- 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.

### 2. to perform or act out

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

to perform a story, a play, or a specific action.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to put into practice

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

to put a plan or a suggestion into action.

For teachers: to carry out or put into practice a particular plan, idea, or policy.

- 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.

## Examples

- The government plans to enact new laws to protect the environment.
- After months of public debate, the city council voted to enact a ban on single-use plastics in all local restaurants.
- The legislature moved quickly to enact the emergency measures, ensuring that the necessary funding reached the affected regions before the onset of the winter storms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.