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.
obliger noun

Did you know?

If you are obliged by a rule or law you are metaphorically bound by it—that is, you are required to obey it. The idea of binding links the word to its Latin source, ligāre, meaning “to fasten, bind.” In the most common modern uses of oblige, though, the idea of binding is somewhat masked: it is applied when someone is bound by a debt for some favor or service, as in “We’re much obliged to you for the help,” but in the phrase “happy to oblige” it simply expresses a willingness to do someone a favor, as in “They needed a ride and we were happy to oblige.”

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web But they are not obliged to serve it, and you are not obliged to bring it in the first place. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 The Spartans coaxed the Aztecs into launching 3s with a mixture of man and several zone defenses, and the Aztecs obliged by shooting just 5 of 20 beyond the arc. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 The automaker hasn’t always been happy to oblige, especially once its partnership with Gulf Oil ended, according to the listing. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2024 Mitty turned the game into a halfcourt affair, and usually up-tempo Riordan was more than happy to oblige on a night when space was earned and every shot was contested. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024 The film does have something to say about patriarchal Nepalese culture, in which women like Pema are obliged to defend their virtue against accusations by their husbands. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024 The agreement, which will be signed later in London, doesn't include any bilateral returns agreement, which means neither side will be obliged to to take any asylum-seekers under burden-sharing arrangements agreed on between the EU's 27 member states. Pan Pylas, Quartz, 23 Feb. 2024 The enthusiastic crowd — which included several U2 family members (like Bono’s wife Alison Hewson), rocker Lenny Kravitz and other notables — obliged. Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 If the version of A.I. described here becomes obsolete—if the forest is burned down—then whoever shows up next will be obliged to create a viable new cartoon, along with all the rest of the human elements needed for the new technology to be a true technology. Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oblige.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English obligen, oblischen "to impose on as a legal or moral duty, bind by oath or contract," borrowed from Anglo-French obliger, borrowed from Latin obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, assign, place under a legal or moral constraint, pledge," from ob- "toward, facing" + ligāre "to fasten, bind" — more at ob-, ligature

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oblige was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near oblige

Cite this Entry

“Oblige.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oblige. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oblige

verb
obliged; obliging
1
: to compel by pressure : force entry 2 sense 1
the soldiers were obliged to retreat
2
a
: to earn the gratitude of
you will oblige me by coming early
b
: to do a favor for or do something as a favor
glad to oblige
obliger noun

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