obliging

1 of 2

adjective

oblig·​ing ə-ˈblī-jiŋ 

: willing to do favors : helpful

obligingly adverb

obligingness noun

obligingness

2 of 2

noun

oblig·​ing·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being obliging

Synonyms of obliging

Adjective

• friendly

Choose the Right Synonym for obliging

amiable, good-natured, obliging, complaisant mean having the desire or disposition to please.

amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with.

an amiable teacher not easily annoyed

good-natured implies cheerfulness or helpfulness and sometimes a willingness to be imposed upon.

a good-natured girl who was always willing to pitch in

obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful.

our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness.

was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

Examples of obliging in a Sentence

Adjective

An obliging passerby helped her with her packages.

an obliging concierge used her pull to get us reservations at the town's hottest restaurant

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The obliging photographer was Ringo Starr. —Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 8 June 2026

In his ever-obliging character, my dad, Patrick Baskette, gladly divulged which presents any father would love to unwrap. —Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026

Perhaps it could be argued that Freiburg were obliging opponents. —Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 21 May 2026

The service Service is warm and obliging. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of oblige

First Known Use

Adjective

1632, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

obliging

adjective

oblig·​ing

ə-ˈblī-jiŋ

: willing to do favors

obligingly adverb