How do you use the word "impose" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "impose" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "impose": Sorry to impose, but would you please open the window? The U.S. government is to impose two of the sanctions against those countries.

Impose Meaning

/ɪmˈpəʊz/

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set.

verbTo physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set., To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc.

Sentence Examples

Sorry to impose, but would you please open the window?

The U.S. government is to impose two of the sanctions against those countries.

The courts were empowered to impose the death sentence for certain crimes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

visit levy inflict

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The government decided to ____ new taxes on luxury items to raise additional revenue.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The government decided to ____ a new tax on sugary drinks in an effort to combat obesity.

Word Origin & History

The verb is derived from Late Middle English imposen (“to place, set; to impose (a duty, etc.)”), borrowed from Middle French imposer, and Old French emposer, enposer (“to impose (a duty, tax, etc.)”) (modern French imposer), from im-, em- (variants of en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’)) + poser (“to place, put”), modelled after: * Latin impōnere (“to place or set (something) on; (figurative) to impose (a duty, tax, etc.)”), from im- (variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘on, upon’)) + pōnō (“to place, put; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂pó, *h₂epó (“away; off”) + *tḱey- (“to cultivate; to live; to settle”)); and * Latin impositus (“established; put upon, imposed”), the perfect passive participle of impōnō: see above. The noun is derived from the verb.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"[H]is Svvaine / Strevv'd faire greene Oſiers; and impoſ'd thereon / A good ſoft Sheepeskin, vvhich made him a Throne." — 1614–1615, Homer, “The Sixteenth Book of Homer’s Odysseys”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume II, London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC, page 244:

"It vvas here likevviſe, in a place vvhere the diſtance betvveen the oppoſite banks cannot exceed five hundred paces, that Xerxes impoſed a ſtupendous bridge of boats, for the purpoſe of tranſporting into Europe an hundred and ſeventy myriads of barbarians." — 1781, Edward Gibbon, “Foundation of Constantinople—Political System of Constantine, and His Successors—Military Discipline—The Palace—The Finances”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume II, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, pages 7–8:

"[Jesus] ſaid to them, Suffer the litle children to come vnto me, and prohibit them not, for the kingdom of God is for ſuch. […] And embracing them, and impoſing hands vpon them, he bleſſed them." — 1582, The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ: […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Rheims: Iohn Fogny, →OCLC, Marke 10:14 and 16, page 113:

"[W]hen Iſraell bleſſed Ephraim and Manaſſes Ioſephs ſonnes, hee impoſed vpon them his hands and prayed, […]" — 1597, Richard Hooker, “Of Confirmation after Baptisme”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book V, section 66, page 351:

"[T]hat the Apoſtolate might be ſucceſſive and perpetuall, Chriſt gave them a povver of ordination, that by impoſing hands on others they might impart that povver vvhich they receiued from Chriſt." — 1642, Jer[emy] Taylor, “§ 3. With a Power of Joyning Others and Appointing Successors in the Apostolate.”, in Of the Sacred Order, and Offices of Episcopacy, by Divine Institution, Apostolicall Tradition, & Catholike Practice. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Leonard Lichfield, printer to the University, →OCLC, page 13:

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