oblige — to make someone legally or morally bound to do something
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make someone legally or morally bound to do something
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈblaɪdʒ/
Example Sentences
- My mom obliges me to clean my room every Saturday, but she always obliges when I need her help too.
- The waiter was happy to oblige when the customer asked for extra ketchup for the tenth time.
- The company policy obliges all employees to wear uniforms, even the CEO.
oblige
VERB[/əˈblaɪdʒ/]
to make someone legally or morally bound to do something

The knight felt obliged to help the elderly woman carry her heavy basket home.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin 'obligare', the word originally meant 'to bind' or 'to tie up'. The sense evolved from the literal image of binding someone with rope to the metaphorical notion of imposing a duty or obligation upon them.
Breakdown
ob- (towards) + ligare (to bind) = to bind towards, hence to place under obligation or duty.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom obliges me to clean my room every Saturday, but she always obliges when I need her help too.”
“The waiter was happy to oblige when the customer asked for extra ketchup for the tenth time.”
“The company policy obliges all employees to wear uniforms, even the CEO.”
“When my friend asked me to sing karaoke, I felt obliged to oblige, even though I sound like a dying cat.”
📚Related Words
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