oblige

verb \ ə-ˈblīj \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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

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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

Brussels also rammed through a law obliging member states to accept mandatory quotas of asylum seekers to reduce the pressure on front-line states.

— simon nixon, WSJ, "Can the EU Break Out of Its Political Limbo?," 15 Apr. 2018
Through high school and college, Albright funneled her passion for foreign policy into forming international relations clubs at school, obliging her friends to join, and naming herself as president.

— sarah mucha, Teen Vogue, "Madeleine Albright on Being a Teenager and Politics in the 21st Century," 11 Apr. 2018
Today their mutual sponsor Nike mandated that its other golfers wear pink, and Reed obliged.

— stephanie apstein, SI.com, "At Augusta, Tiger Woods Was Caught Between Being a Star and an Elder Statesman," 8 Apr. 2018
Gay obliged Sunday, outscoring the Rockets' bench by himself.

— jeff mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Gay’s bench boost gets Spurs one step closer to the playoffs," 1 Apr. 2018
Our lawmakers are obliged to legislate. Because if not, they would be exposed in their cultural backwardness and in their ignorance.

— martín echenique, The Atlantic, "The Power of A Fantastic Woman's Oscar Win," 14 Mar. 2018
Because Sweden is a non-NATO member, the U.S. and the rest of alliance would not be obliged to come to its defense if it were attacked.

— alexander smith, NBC News, "Sweden plans to build more bunkers amid fears of Russian aggression," 6 Mar. 2018
The school, however, was obliged to report the form’s expiration to the federal government, according to Naomi Kim.

— nina shapiro, The Seattle Times, "‘This never happens’: International student’s unexpected ordeal ends with surprise twist," 27 Jan. 2018
Jeffress intentionally walked pinch-hitter Raffy Lopez to set up a double play, and veteran Chase Headley obliged with a grounder to third baseman Travis Shaw, who initiated a 5-2-3 DP that snuffed the rally.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers pitcher Jeremy Jeffress carried his spring momentum into a key opening day outing," 30 Mar. 2018

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)