Enables — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /i-ˈnā-bəl/ en·able

Meaning & Definition of Enables

Enables (verb)

  1. to provide with the means or opportunity
  2. to make possible, practical, or easy
  3. to cause to operate

Enables (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make able or possible

    "my new glasses enable me to read the fine print"

    similar: allows, empowers, lets, permits
    related: fits, habilitates, prepares, qualifies, readies, approves, endorses, sanctions, conditions, equips
    opposite: prevents
    near: inhibits, precludes, disallows, enjoins, forbids, prohibits

  2. to give official or legal power to

    "a law that would enable the authorities to inspect food preparation areas for health code violations"

    similar: accredits, authorizes, certifies, charters (British), commissions, empowers, invests, licenses, qualifies, vests, warrants
    related: approves, clears, credentials, endorses, OKs, sanctions, affirms, confirms, validates, inaugurates, inducts, initiates, installs, instates, swears in, allows, lets, permits, enfranchises, entitles, privileges
    opposite: disqualifies
    near: bans, bars, blocks, constrains, denies, disallows, disbars, discourages, disenfranchises, disfranchises, excludes, hinders, holds back, impedes, inhibits, obstructs, prevents, shuts out, stops, enjoins, forbids, interdicts, outlaws, prohibits, proscribes, vetoes

Related Entry: Enable (verb)

Enable is a different word from Enables. The synonyms below are for enable, not for enables.

  1. to make able or possible

    "my new glasses enable me to read the fine print"

    similar: allow, empower, let, permit
    related: fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready, approve, endorse, sanction, condition, equip
    opposite: prevent
    near: inhibit, preclude, disallow, enjoin, forbid, prohibit

  2. to give official or legal power to

    "a law that would enable the authorities to inspect food preparation areas for health code violations"

    similar: accredit, authorize, certify, charter (British), commission, empower, invest, license, qualify, vest, warrant
    related: approve, clear, credential, endorse, OK, sanction, affirm, confirm, validate, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, swear in, allow, let, permit, enfranchise, entitle, privilege
    opposite: disqualify
    near: ban, bar, block, constrain, deny, disallow, disbar, discourage, disenfranchise, disfranchise, exclude, hinder, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent, shut out, stop, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe, veto

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Enables

The most common words with a similar meaning to Enables:

British: charters
allows, empowers, lets, permits, accredits, authorizes, certifies, commissions, invests, licenses, qualifies, vests, warrants

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Enables

Words with the opposite meaning of Enables:

prevents, disqualifies

Related Words for Enables

fits, habilitates, prepares, readies, approves, endorses, sanctions, conditions, equips, clears, credentials, OKs, affirms, confirms, validates, inaugurates, inducts, initiates, installs, instates, swears in, enfranchises, entitles, privileges

Near Antonyms of Enables

inhibits, precludes, disallows, enjoins, forbids, prohibits, bans, bars, blocks, constrains, denies, disbars, discourages, disenfranchises, disfranchises, excludes, hinders, holds back, impedes, obstructs, shuts out, stops, interdicts, outlaws, proscribes, vetoes

Word Forms of Enables

Inflections: enabled, enabling

Origin & Etymology of Enables

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Enables

What does "Enables" mean?

"Enables" means to provide with the means or opportunity. As a verb, it is defined as: to provide with the means or opportunity. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Enables"?

Other words for "Enables" include allows, empowers, lets, permits, accredits, authorizes, certifies and charters. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Enables" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Enables"?

There are 38 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Enables". Common alternatives include allows, empowers, lets, permits, accredits, authorizes, certifies, charters, commissions and invests.

What is the opposite of "Enables"?

Antonyms of "Enables" include prevents and disqualifies. Near antonyms include inhibits, precludes, disallows and enjoins.

How do you use "Enables" in a sentence?

Examples of "Enables" in a sentence: "my new glasses enable me to read the fine print"; "a law that would enable the authorities to inspect food preparation areas for health code violations".

Is "Enables" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Enables" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Enables"?

"Enables" is pronounced /i-ˈnā-bəl/ and divided into syllables as en·able.

What is the origin of the word "Enables"?

First known use: 15th century.