Standard Lemma guide

enjoin

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɛnˈd͡ʒɔɪn/
  • /ɪnˈd͡ʒɔɪn/
  • /ənˈd͡ʒɔɪn/
  • rhymes with -ɔɪn
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH2 N JH OY1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: IH0 N JH OY1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to direct with authority; to order; to charge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: literary, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To prescribe under authority; to ordain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To prohibit or restrain by a judicial order or decree; to put an injunction on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I said to him to go home
  • She ordered him to do the shopping
  • The mother told the child to get dressed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: order, tell, say

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: request

Narrower terms: direct, instruct, command, require, call, send for, warn

5

verb

Meaning 5

issue an injunction

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: forbid, prohibit, interdict, proscribe, veto, disallow, nix

History

Etymology

From Middle English enjoinen, from Old French enjoindre (“to join with”), from Latin iniungo (“to attach”), a compound of in- (“into” “upon”) and iungo.

Across languages

Translations

46 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: buyurmaq — to lay on, as a command
  • Azerbaijani: əmr etmək — to lay on, as a command
  • Azerbaijani: hökm etmək — to lay on, as a command
  • Bulgarian: нареждам (nareždam) — to lay on, as a command
  • Bulgarian: предписвам (predpisvam) — to lay on, as a command
  • Chinese Mandarin: 吩咐 (fēnfù) — to lay on, as a command
  • Chinese Mandarin: 命令 (mìnglìng) — to lay on, as a command
  • Chinese Mandarin: 禁止 (jìnzhǐ) — to lay on, as a command
  • Czech: nařídit — to lay on, as a command
  • Czech: nakázat — to lay on, as a command
  • Czech: poručit — to lay on, as a command
  • Danish: påbyde — to lay on, as a command
  • Danish: pålægge — to lay on, as a command
  • Finnish: määrätä — to lay on, as a command
  • French: enjoindre — to lay on, as a command
  • German: auferlegen — to lay on, as a command
  • German: vorschreiben — to lay on, as a command
  • German: anordnen — to lay on, as a command
  • German: ermahnen — to lay on, as a command
  • German: mahnen — to lay on, as a command
  • German: aufgeben — to lay on, as a command
  • German: fordern — to lay on, as a command
  • Ancient Greek: ἐπιτέλλω (epitéllō) — to lay on, as a command
  • Hungarian: parancsol — to lay on, as a command
  • Hungarian: megparancsol — to lay on, as a command
  • Hungarian: utasít — to lay on, as a command
  • Hungarian: int — to lay on, as a command
  • Hungarian: elrendel — to lay on, as a command
  • Hungarian: meghagy — to lay on, as a command
  • Irish: cuir d'fhiacha ar — to lay on, as a command
  • Pennsylvania German: aabefehle — to lay on, as a command
  • Portuguese: injungir — to lay on, as a command
  • Russian: предпи́сывать (predpísyvatʹ) — to lay on, as a command
  • Russian: предписа́ть (predpisátʹ) — to lay on, as a command
  • Russian: веле́ть (velétʹ) — to lay on, as a command
  • Spanish: mandar — to lay on, as a command
  • Bulgarian: забранявам (zabranjavam) — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • Czech: (soudně) zakázat — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • Danish: pålægge — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • Finnish: määrätä — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • Finnish: kieltää — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • German: untersagen — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • German: verbieten — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • Hungarian: megtilt — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • Hungarian: eltilt — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order
  • Russian: запреща́ть (zapreščátʹ) — to prohibit or restrain by judicial order