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View synonyms for oblige

oblige

[ uh-blahyj ]

verb (used with object)

, o·bliged, o·blig·ing.
  1. to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity.

    Synonyms: force, compel

  2. to bind morally or legally, as by a promise or contract.

    Synonyms: obligate

  3. to place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor, or service:

    I'm much obliged for the ride.

  4. to put (one) in a debt of gratitude, as by a favor or accommodation:

    Mr. Weems will oblige us with a song.

  5. to make (an action, policy, etc.) necessary or obligatory:

    Your carelessness obliges firmness on my part.



verb (used without object)

, o·bliged, o·blig·ing.
  1. to be kindly accommodating:

    I'll do anything within reason to oblige.

oblige

/ əˈblaɪdʒ /

verb

  1. tr; often passive to bind or constrain (someone to do something) by legal, moral, or physical means
  2. tr; usually passive to make indebted or grateful (to someone) by doing a favour or service

    we are obliged to you for dinner

  3. to do a service or favour to (someone)

    she obliged the guest with a song



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Derived Forms

  • oˈbliger, noun

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Other Words From

  • o·blig·er noun
  • pre·o·blige verb (used with object) preobliged preobliging
  • re·o·blige verb (used with object) reobliged reobliging

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Word History and Origins

Origin of oblige1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, from Latin obligāre “to bind”; obligate

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Word History and Origins

Origin of oblige1

C13: from Old French obliger, from Latin obligāre, from ob- to, towards + ligāre to bind

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Synonym Study

Oblige, accommodate imply making a gracious and welcome gesture of some kind. Oblige emphasizes the idea of conferring a favor or benefit (and often of taking some trouble to do it): to oblige someone with a loan. Accommodate emphasizes doing a service or furnishing a convenience: to accommodate someone with lodgings and meals.

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Example Sentences

The would-be pope killer loves to be in front of the cameras, and the press in Italy is happy to oblige.

The zoo is blessed with multiple wallabies and was happy to oblige.

To know the Egyptian military is to realize it will not oblige.

I know some magazines contractually oblige their staff writers to produce six features a year, for example.

If Republicans wanted to talk books, Elleithee said, the McAuliffe campaign should be happy to oblige.

And was it not possible that the E. of N. might oblige his old Friends in the same manner?

Jonas: La baleine fut la fin oblige de le vomir tant un Prophte est un morceau difficile digrer.

And to increase the horrid scene, they would oblige the husband to be a spectator before suffered himself.

Señor Rhodes will be pleased to unfasten those heavy chains to oblige the lady.

Few were the dances in which I did not take a part, sinking so low as occasionally to oblige with a hornpipe.

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obligatoryobliged