impose

v., -posed, -pos·ing, -pos·es.

v.tr.

1. To establish or apply as compulsory; levy: impose a tax.
2. To apply or make prevail by or as if by authority: impose a peace settlement. See synonyms at dictate.
3. To obtrude or force (oneself, for example) on another or others.
4. Printing. To arrange (type or plates) on an imposing stone.
5. To offer or circulate fraudulently; pass off: imposed a fraud on consumers.

v.intr.
To take unfair advantage: You are always imposing on their generosity.

[Middle English imposen, from Old French imposer, alteration (influenced by poser, to put, place) of Latin impōnere, to place upon : in-, on; see in-² + pōnere, to place.]

imposer im·pos'er n.

verb

1. To establish and apply as compulsory: assess, exact, levy, put. See obligation, over/under, willing/unwilling.
2. To set forth expressly and authoritatively: decree, dictate, fix, lay down, ordain, prescribe. Idioms: call theshotstune, lay it on the line. See over/under.
3. To cause to undergo or bear (something unwelcome or damaging, for example): inflict, play, visit, wreak. See give/take/reciprocity, over/under, willing/unwilling.
4. To force (another) to accept a burden: foist, inflict, saddle. Informal stick. See give/take/reciprocity, over/under, willing/unwilling.
5. To take advantage of unfairly: abuse, exploit, presume, use. See treat well/treat badly/treat.

IN BRIEF: To establish or apply by authority. Or to make unfair or rude demands.

Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. — Confucius (c. 551-c. 479 BC), Chinese philosopher.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: compel or impose
  Synonym: enforce

Meaning #2: impose something unpleasant
  Synonyms: inflict, bring down, visit

Meaning #3: impose and collect
  Synonym: levy

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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - lægge på, pålægge, idømme
v. intr. - trænge sig på, være til ulejlighed

idioms:

• impose upon    trænge sig på

Nederlands (Dutch)
opleggen, opdringen, heffen, misbruik maken

Français (French)
v. tr. - réclamer, imposer (à qn, sur qn), infliger, s'imposer à, (Imprim) imposer
v. intr. - s'imposer, déranger (qn), s'imposer à

idioms:

• impose upon    imposer (à qn, sur qch), infliger (à), déranger (qn), abuser (de)

Deutsch (German)
v. - anordnen, auferlegen, erheben, imponieren

idioms:

• impose upon    ausnutzen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - επιβάλλω, επιτάσσω, επωφελούμαι, εκμεταλλεύομαι

idioms:

• impose upon    γίνομαι φορτικός, επιβάλλω, κορο1δεύω, κάνω κατάχρηση

Italiano (Italian)
imporre, reclamare

idioms:

• impose upon    imporre, abusare di

Português (Portuguese)
v. - impor

idioms:

• impose upon    enganar, impressionar

Русский (Russian)
облагать (налогом), налагать (обязательства), навязывать, обманывать, производить сильное впечатление

idioms:

• impose upon    облагать (налогом), навязывать, производить сильное впечатление

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - imponer, obligar, gravar (con cargas), abusar de
v. intr. - engañar, abusar de la buena fe o la ingenuidad de alguien

idioms:

• impose upon    aprovecharse de, molestar o importunar a

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - lägga på, införa, tvinga på, skjuta ut (typogr.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
征, 把...强加于, 加于, 利用, 施影响, 欺骗

idioms:

• impose upon    利用, 占...便宜, 欺骗...

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 征, 把...強加於, 加於
v. intr. - 利用, 施影響, 欺騙

idioms:

• impose upon    利用, 占...便宜, 欺騙...

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 부과하다, 강요하다, 떠맡기다
v. intr. - 편승하다, 속이다, 위압하다

idioms:

• impose upon    강요하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 課する, 押し付ける, 漬け込む, 騙す

idioms:

• impose upon    威圧する, …をだますに付けこむ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يفرض‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮הטיל מס, הטיל תפקיד, כפה עצמו, נדחק, סידר עמודים בסדר הנכון כהכנה להדפסה‬
v. intr. - ‮דרש שימת-לב או התחייבות מ-, הכביד בנוכחותו, הרשים בהופעתו‬

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