French Conversation · Level 105
58 words
French word
imposer
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃poze/
Meaning
- verbimpose
Example
Il ne faut pas imposer tes idées à ta famille.
You must not impose your ideas on your family.
More examples
Le gouvernement a imposé une nouvelle taxe.
The government imposed a new tax.
Core concept
A hand places a rule or burden on another person, leaving no room for that person's choice.
Common phrases
imposer quelque chose à quelqu'un
impose something on someone
imposer sa volonté
impose one's will
imposer des règles
impose rules
Similar words
forcer: To compel an action by using powerful physical or psychological pressure.
obliger: To make an action mandatory through an obligation or regulation.
exiger: To require something firmly and expect the demand to be met.
Definition in French
Rendre obligatoire pour quelqu'un une mesure, une idée ou une contrainte sans qu'il l'ait choisie.
Word origin
French imposer comes from Latin imponere, formed from in- meaning 'upon' and ponere meaning 'to place', with the sense developing from placing something on to placing a demand on someone.
Usage tips
- The usual pattern is imposer quelque chose à quelqu'un, with à marking the person subjected to the rule or demand.
Other meanings
- forceverb
- levyverb
Related words
- impositionimpositionnoun
- imposéimposedadjective
- imposabletaxableadjective