enable

Enable is a verb meaning to give someone or something the authority, means, or opportunity to do something, or to make a system, feature, or process operative. It can refer to empowering a person to act, authorizing a procedure, or turning on a function in a device or software. The sense of enabling is that potential is converted into capability, often by unlocking access or permissions.

Originating from the prefix en- meaning “to cause to be” and the adjective able, enable developed in Middle English from Old French and Latin roots. The core sense—making something possible—has remained central in use.

In computing and information technology, to enable a feature or option activates it for use, while disabling turns it off. Permissions and access controls are often described as being enabled or disabled; software settings commonly provide an enable toggle to grant capabilities.

In social and clinical contexts, enabling can describe behaviors by others that unintentionally maintain another person’s problematic conduct, such as enabling addiction by shielding the individual from consequences. The term is commonly contrasted with empowerment and independent decision-making, and its evaluative tone depends on context.

See also: enablement, activation, authorization, empowerment, disable.