enable

The word “enable” means to give someone the ability, means, or authority to do something. In plain terms, to make something possible, or to switch a feature on.

“Enable” is pronounced ih-NAY-buhl (/ɪˈneɪ.bəl/ in IPA).

Here is “enable” used in a sentence: “The grant enabled her to finish her degree.”

“Enable” is a verb.

The word “enable” comes from Middle English. From Middle English enablen, from en- + able.

“Enable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Enable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give someone the ability, means, or authority to do something.

"Enable" means to give someone the ability, means, or authority to do something, so it focuses on making an action possible. "Allow" mainly grants permission, so you can allow something without providing the means, while enabling actively equips someone to act.

Use "enable" for giving the practical ability, means, or authority to act, including switching on a device function. "Empower" carries a stronger sense of giving people confidence, control, or authority, and is more common in social or motivational contexts.

"Enable" is typically followed by an object and then "to" plus a verb, as in "the grant enabled her to travel." It is not usually followed by "for," so "enabled him to finish" is correct rather than "enabled him for finishing."

In technology, "enable" means to switch on or activate a function or feature, while "disable" turns it off. For example, you might enable notifications to receive them and disable them to stop them.