# enable

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪˈneɪbəl/ · frequency rank #4,298

## Definitions
1. To make somebody able (to do, or to be, something); to give sufficient ability or power to do or to be; to give strength or ability to.
2. To affirm; to make firm and strong.
3. To qualify or approve for some role or position; to render sanction or authorization to; to confirm suitability for.
4. To yield the opportunity or provide the possibility for something; to provide with means, opportunities, and the like.
5. To imply or tacitly confer excuse for an action or a behavior.
6. To put a circuit element into action by supplying a suitable input pulse.
7. To activate, to make operational (especially of a function of an electronic or mechanical device).

## Etymology
From Middle English enablen, equivalent to en- + able.

## Easily confused with
- **engle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/enable-vs-engle)
- **enabled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/enable-vs-enabled)
- **enabler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/enable-vs-enabler)
- **enviable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/enable-vs-enviable)
- **eagle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eagle-vs-enable)
- **Earle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/earle-vs-enable)
- **edible** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/edible-vs-enable)

## Common misspellings (9)
`eanble`, `enabble`, `enabel`, `enablle`, `enalbe`, `enbale`, `enible`, `ennable`, `neable`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/enable