enabled; enabling
i-ˈnā-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to provide with the means or opportunity
training that enables people to earn a living
b
: to make possible, practical, or easy
a deal that would enable passage of a new law
c
: to cause to operate
software that enables the keyboard
2
: to give legal power, capacity, or sanction to
a law enabling admission of a state
Did you know?
Enabling: The Behavior of an Enabler
Enable has a number of senses, most of which are some variant on allowing someone (or something, such as enabling cookies on a computer) to do something. In the past several decades, enable has also started to take on a new associated sense in the field of addiction studies, where enabling is viewed as giving misguided support to a person with some substance-abuse issue. A person who facilitates the self-destructive behavior of another is referred to as an enabler.
Examples of enable in a Sentence
The machine enables us to create copies without losing quality.
The system enables students to access class materials online.
These choices are part of what enabled the company to be successful.
a filing system that enables easy access to information
Be sure to enable your computer's firewall.
Recent Examples on the Web
The growing fleet is accelerating development by generating large-scale data for Helix, the company’s humanoid AI model, while enabling real-world deployment across research, commercial, and domestic use cases, according to a blog by Figure.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Most work in the field has focused on altering the genetic code in ways that are useful, such as using more than 20 amino acids to enable interesting chemistry.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Trump is reportedly pursuing an international coalition to enable ships to transit the strait, and he is being briefed on military options, too.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The microphone setup enables crystal-clear hands-free calling, and the battery lasts up to 30 hours on a single charge.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enable
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Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Most work in the field has focused on altering the genetic code in ways that are useful, such as using more than 20 amino acids to enable interesting chemistry.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Trump is reportedly pursuing an international coalition to enable ships to transit the strait, and he is being briefed on military options, too.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The microphone setup enables crystal-clear hands-free calling, and the battery lasts up to 30 hours on a single charge.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enable
Cite this Entry
“Enable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enable. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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