oblige

oblige — verb

1. to require someone to act in a particular way because a law, rule, duty, or set

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to require someone to act in a particular way because a law, rule, duty, or set of circumstances leaves them no real choice.

Example

The new tax law obliges every freelancer in Taipei to file quarterly returns.

oblige + sb + to-infinitive (legal duty)

Heavy snow obliged the climbers to abandon their summit attempt by noon.

circumstances as subject forcing an action

Common collocations
  • legally obliged
  • morally obliged
  • feel obliged
  • be obliged by law
Synonyms
  • compel

    stronger; suggests pressure that overrides the person's will

  • require

    neutral; common in rules, instructions, and forms

  • force

    blunter; often physical or emotional pressure rather than legal duty

Antonyms
  • exempt

    to free someone from a duty that would otherwise apply

Grammar Patterns

oblige + sb + to-infinitive

be obliged to do sth

Usage Note

Frequently passive (be obliged to do sth) when the speaker wants to highlight the duty rather than who imposed it. The subject in the active voice is typically a law, contract, role, or external event — not usually a person ordering another person around.

Common Mistakes

The teacher obliged me study late.
The teacher obliged me to study late.
'oblige' takes object + to-infinitive, never a bare infinitive.
I am obliged for finishing the report by Friday.
I am obliged to finish the report by Friday.
use 'to' + base verb after 'be obliged', not '-ing'.

2. to do a small favor or kind act for someone, often something they have politely

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

to do a small favor or kind act for someone, often something they have politely asked for, so that they feel pleased and a little grateful.

Example

When the children asked Mr. Patel for one more song, he happily obliged.

intransitive: oblige used alone after a request

The waiter obliged us with extra napkins and a fresh pot of tea.

oblige sb with sth (small favor)

Common collocations
  • happy to oblige
  • kindly oblige
  • oblige with a smile
Synonyms
  • accommodate

    more neutral; emphasizes adjusting plans to suit someone

  • indulge

    suggests giving in to a wish, sometimes a self-centered one

  • humor

    informal; do what someone wants to keep them happy, even if silly

Antonyms
  • refuse

    decline to do what someone has asked

Grammar Patterns

oblige sb (with sth)

oblige (intransitive)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is intransitive or takes 'with' + thing given, never 'to + infinitive' meaning duty. Often appears in slightly old-fashioned or polite contexts ('happy to oblige', 'much obliged'). The favor is usually small and easy to grant.

Common Mistakes

She obliged me to lend her my umbrella.' (meaning she did me a favor)
She obliged me by lending me her umbrella.
sense 2 uses 'by + -ing', not 'to + infinitive'.
Thank you, much oblige.
Thank you, much obliged.
the fixed polite phrase is 'much obliged' (past participle).

Word family

  • obligation
    nounB2
  • obligatory
    adjectiveC1
  • obliged
    adjectiveC1
  • obliging
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four verbs say someone has no real choice, but they differ in source and tone. 'Oblige' (sense 1) usually points to a law, contract, or moral duty — something external and impersonal: 'The lease obliges tenants to pay by the fifth.' It is the most common in formal or legal writing. 'Require' is the most neutral; it simply states what is needed, often by rules or institutions: 'The school requires uniforms.' 'Compel' adds a sense of strong pressure that overrides someone's wishes, and often a feeling of reluctance: 'Hunger compelled them to eat the bitter berries.' 'Force' is the bluntest, suggesting physical, emotional, or violent pressure: 'The robbers forced him to open the safe.' For learner advice: pick 'oblige' for legal or moral duty, 'require' for rules, 'compel' for strong inner or outer pressure, and 'force' when the pressure feels rough or unwilling.

obligecompelrequireforce

Common collocations

Nouns

  • law
  • contract
  • duty
  • circumstances
  • favor

Adverbs

  • legally
  • morally
  • kindly
  • happily

Phrases

  • be obliged to do something
  • feel obliged to
  • happy to oblige
  • much obliged

Prepositions

  • by
  • with
  • to

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Oblige' came into English in the 1300s from Old French 'obliger', which itself came from Latin 'obligare' — built from 'ob-' ('toward, against') and 'ligare' ('to bind'). The root idea is being tied or bound to a duty, like a knot you cannot easily slip out of. The same Latin 'ligare' lies behind English words such as 'ligament' and 'liable'. The 'do a favor' sense (sense 2) developed later, around the 1600s, from the polite idea that helping someone creates a small bond of gratitude — 'I am much obliged to you' literally means 'I am bound to you in thanks'.