Imposed Impose I People System Additional Financial Burdens

• a new tax was imposed on fuel.
• to impose limitations/restrictions/constraints on something
• this system imposes additional financial burdens on many people.
• the time limits are imposed on us by factors outside our control.

impose

1. to introduce a new law, rule, tax, etc.; to order that a rule, punishment, etc. be used
• A new tax was imposed on fuel.
2. to force somebody/something to have to deal with something that is difficult or unpleasant
• to impose limitations/restrictions/constraints on something
• This system imposes additional financial burdens on many people.
• The time limits are imposed on us by factors outside our control.
3. to make somebody accept the same opinions, wishes, etc. as your own
• She didn't want to impose her values on her family.
• It was noticeable how a few people managed to impose their will on the others.
4. to expect somebody to do something for you or to spend time with you, when it may not be convenient for them
• ‘You must stay for lunch.’ ‘Well, thanks, but I don’t want to impose…’
• Everyone imposes on Dave's good nature.
5. to make somebody/something accept or be aware of your presence or ideas
• European civilization was the first to impose itself across the whole world.

Extra Examples

• New technology cannot be used successfully if it is simply imposed on an unwilling workforce.
• One side in the conflict cannot unilaterally impose a settlement.
• People did not accept these national borders which had been arbitrarily imposed.
• The government has imposed a ban on the sale of handguns.
• The terms of the contract were effectively imposed rather than agreed.
• The will of the majority has been forcibly imposed on the minority.
• a centrally imposed school curriculum
• the pressure of having to meet externally imposed targets
• A prison sentence of 25 years was imposed on each of the defendants.
• I don’t want to impose on you people.
• I feel imposed upon when I have to take work home.
• No, I won’t come in—I don’t want to impose.
• The system imposes additional financial burdens on many people.
• They have imposed restrictions on water use.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they impose
• he / she / it imposes
• past simple imposed
• past participle imposed
• -ing form imposing

Word Origin

• late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘impute’): from French imposer, from Latin imponere ‘inflict, deceive’ (from in- ‘in, upon’ + ponere ‘put’), but influenced by impositus ‘inflicted’ and Old French poser ‘to place’.