oblige

verb \ ə-ˈblīj \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 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

Just because Facebook insists that media shifts its resources into video doesn’t mean that media needs to oblige.

— franklin foer, The Atlantic, "The Death of the Public Square," 6 July 2018
Maureen Jacobson said kids on bikes would sometimes detour off the West Orange Trail past their house and imitate a crowing rooster, hoping to prompt a response from Milfred, who often obliged.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "No more jarring 'cock-a-doodle-doos,' but beloved rooster Milfred will live on, stuffed by taxidermist," 3 July 2018
The Fed is answerable to Congress, with the chair obliged to testify twice a year and deliver a report on monetary policy, but has been granted independence to pursue its dual mandate for maximum employment and stable prices.

— alister bull, BostonGlobe.com, "Kudlow bucks tradition in urging Fed to hike rates ‘very slowly’," 3 July 2018
Most galling, Huggins couldn't afford a lawyer but was obliged by the loan contract to pay for the company's.

— peter whoriskey, courant.com, "Unsolicited checks can be a lifeline and an albatross," 2 July 2018
Given how public and bitter the confrontation has become, experts expect that both leaders will feel politically obliged to avoid any gesture that looks like surrender.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Dow Tumbles 300 Points As Trump Escalates Trade War With China," 19 June 2018
Ayers, who considers Kelly's wry observation about cannabis to be his finest, felt obliged to try to match it.

— will higgins, Indianapolis Star, "These two men compete to get one-liners in IndyStar’s ‘Let it Out’ section," 23 Apr. 2018
As moderator of a recent panel discussion at the Wharton School titled Meat Without Animals: Social Entrepreneurship and the Future of Food, I felt obliged to disclose my carnivorous past.

— diane mastrull, Philly.com, "When the daughter of a butcher leads a discussion on animal-free eating," 19 Apr. 2018
Irving was eager to learn, to soak up advice, and Howery (Get Out, Tag) obliged.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "'I thought this movie will either be 'Showgirls' bad or it will be really good': Charles Stone III on directing Kyrie Irving and other basketball stars in 'Uncle Drew'," 22 June 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)