OBLIGE

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does oblige mean? 

• OBLIGE (verb)
  The verb OBLIGE has 3 senses:

1. force somebody to do something

2. bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

3. provide a service or favor for someone

  Familiarity information: OBLIGE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OBLIGE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they oblige    ... he / she / it obliges   
Past simple: obliged   
Past participle: obliged   
-ing form: obliging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Force somebody to do something

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

compel; obligate; oblige

Context example:

We compel all students to fill out this form

Hypernyms (to "oblige" is one way to...):

cause; get; have; induce; make; stimulate (cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner)

Cause:

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "oblige"):

force; thrust (impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably)

walk (make walk)

coerce; force; hale; pressure; squeeze (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

clamor (compel someone to do something by insistent clamoring)

condemn (compel or force into a particular state or activity)

shame (compel through a sense of shame)

apply; enforce; implement (ensure observance of laws and rules)

constrain; enforce; impose (compel to behave in a certain way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They oblige him to write the letter

Derivation:

obligation (the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

bind; hold; obligate; oblige

Context example:

I'll hold you by your promise

Hypernyms (to "oblige" is one way to...):

relate (have or establish a relationship to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "oblige"):

pledge (bind or secure by a pledge)

article (bind by a contract; especially for a training period)

indent; indenture (bind by or as if by indentures, as of an apprentice or servant)

tie down (restrain from independence by an obligation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

obligation (a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Provide a service or favor for someone

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

accommodate; oblige

Context example:

We had to oblige him

Hypernyms (to "oblige" is one way to...):

abide by; comply; follow (act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

disoblige (ignore someone's wishes)

Derivation:

obligation (a personal relation in which one is indebted for a service or favor)

obliger (someone who performs a service or does a favor)

 Context examples 

Well, Mr. Holmes, I am very much obliged to you and to your friend for coming down to help me.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am sure I am very much obliged to you for coming round.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am not obliged to punish myself for her sins.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

‘Oh, yes,’ said he, turning to me, ‘we are very much obliged to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut your hair.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was very obliging, and offered to do anything in his power.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The sacrifice is not much; and to oblige such a friend—I shall think you quite unkind, if you still refuse.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“He is very obliging,” said Emma; “but is he sure that Harriet means to marry him?”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The hero, however, went to the king, who was now, whether he liked it or not, obliged to keep his promise, and gave his daughter and the half of his kingdom.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

He said, he knew no reason why those, who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public, should be obliged to change, or should not be obliged to conceal them.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Indeed he was obliged to call to her to help him up again.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)