oblige

verb \ ə-ˈblīj \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

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Examples: oblige in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of oblige

obliged; obliging

transitive verb

1 : to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance

obliged to find a job

felt obliged to share it with her

2 a : to put in one's debt by a favor or service

We are much obliged for your help.

b : to do a favor for

always ready to oblige a friend

intransitive verb

: to do something as or as if as a favor

When he was asked for advice, he obliged.

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obliger

noun

See oblige defined for English-language learners

See oblige defined for kids

Examples of oblige in a Sentence

The law obliges the government to release certain documents to the public.
Her job obliges her to work overtime and on weekends.
She's always ready to oblige her friends.
“Thank you for your help.” “I'm happy to oblige.”
They asked for food and he obliged with soup and sandwiches.

Recent Examples of oblige from the Web

Courtesy National Pavilion of Pakistan The rocker-benches perform a similar maneuver, obliging the sitter to negotiate with anyone beside them so that neither will slide sidelong into the dirt should their neighbor stand up.

— ian volner, Curbed, "Pakistan’s first-ever Venice Architecture Biennale pavilion is all about cities," 6 June 2018
They would be obliged to act reasonably toward users, safeguard their data, and avoid conflicts of interest that could exploit them.

— mason marks, STAT, "DNA donors must demand stronger protection for genetic privacy," 30 May 2018
The explanation of Trump allies that he was obliged to renege on the deal because of a campaign promise is bogus: Trump has broken several such pledges already.

— elizabeth drew, The New Republic, "America Gets it Wrong on Iran—Again," 11 May 2018
Comey felt obliged to rush to the hospital to prevent this.

— t.a. frank, The Hive, "A Note to Woke Washington: The Bush Administration Was So Much Worse," 4 May 2018
The trap Russia has fallen into in Syria is that it is obliged to protect its allies, particularly the Assad regime.

— fred weir, The Christian Science Monitor, "Will Russia's involvement in Syria end up burning its ties with Israel?," 24 Apr. 2018
Cassidy seemed a little bit shy to be smooched in front of so many people, but obliged and gave her husband a sweet peck on the lips.

— jennifer aldrich, Country Living, "The Most Awkward Moments From the 2018 ACM Awards," 16 Apr. 2018
Once a notice is received, business owners have three days to produce the forms, which they are legally obliged to possess, according to the ICE website.

— justin phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bay Area restaurant industry on high alert for potential ICE raids," 10 Apr. 2018
While the protests have not kept Kutesa from being appointed, the question of his suitability will be put to the test if this fall he is obliged to preside over a General Assembly debate on gay rights.

— benny avni, Newsweek, "Should a Homophobe Preside Over the UN General-Assembly?," 10 June 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oblige.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Oblige shares some similarities with its close relative obligate, but there are also differences. Oblige derived via Middle English and Anglo-French from Latin obligare ("to bind to"), a combination of ob- ("to or toward") and ligare ("to bind"), whereas obligate descended directly from the past participle of obligare. Both oblige and obligate are frequently used in their past participle forms to express a kind of legal or moral constraint. Obligated once meant "indebted for a service or favor," but today it typically means "required to do something because the law requires it or because it is the right thing to do." Obliged is now the preferred term for the sense that Southern author Flannery O'Connor used in a 1952 letter: "I would be much obliged if you would send me six copies."

Origin and Etymology of oblige

Middle English, from Anglo-French obliger, from Latin obligare, literally, to bind to, from ob- toward + ligare to bind — more at ligature

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

oblige Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of oblige

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige mean to make someone or something yield. force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

- forced to flee for their lives

compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

- compelled to admit my mistake

coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

- coerced into signing over the rights

constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

- constrained by conscience

oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

- felt obliged to go

OBLIGE Defined for English Language Learners

oblige

verb

Definition of oblige for English Language Learners

: to force or require (someone or something) to do something because of a law or rule or because it is necessary
: to do something that someone has asked you to do : to do a favor for (someone)