See oblige in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
{
"derived": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "disoblige"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "misoblige"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "obligable"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "obligement"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "reoblige"
}
],
"etymology_links": [
[
"obligen",
"obligen#Middle_English"
],
[
"obligier",
"obligier#Old_French"
],
[
"obliger",
"obliger#Old_French"
],
[
"obligō, obligāre",
"obligo#Latin"
],
[
"ob-",
"ob-#Latin"
],
[
"ligō",
"ligo#Latin"
],
[
"obligate",
"obligate#English"
]
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leyǵ-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "obligen"
},
"expansion": "Middle English obligen",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "fro",
"3": "obligier"
},
"expansion": "Old French obligier",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "obligo",
"4": "obligō, obligāre"
},
"expansion": "Latin obligō, obligāre",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "obligate"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of obligate",
"name": "doublet"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "obliges",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "obliging",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "obliged",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "obliged",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "oblige (third-person singular simple present obliges, present participle obliging, simple past and past participle obliged)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"related": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "liable"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "much obliged"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "noblesse oblige"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "obligate"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "obligation"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "obligatory"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "obligee"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "obligor"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "rely"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
18,
24
]
],
"text": "Your carelessness obliges firmness on my part.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
5,
12
]
],
"text": "I am obliged to report to the police station every week.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
187,
194
]
],
"english": "Fanny Hill",
"ref": "1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:",
"text": "Tho' he was some time awake before me, yet did he not offer to disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first stirring, which was not till past ten o'clock, I was oblig'd to endure one more trial of his manhood.",
"translation": "Fanny Hill",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means."
],
"id": "en-oblige-en-verb-morY4RXD",
"links": [
[
"constrain",
"constrain"
],
[
"force",
"force"
],
[
"social",
"social"
],
[
"moral",
"moral"
],
[
"legal",
"legal"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"formal"
],
"word": "necessitate"
}
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "hy",
"lang": "Armenian",
"lang_code": "hy",
"roman": "partadrel",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "պարտադրել"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "hy",
"lang": "Armenian",
"lang_code": "hy",
"roman": "partavorecʻnel",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "պարտավորեցնել"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "be",
"lang": "Belarusian",
"lang_code": "be",
"roman": "abavjázvacʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "абавя́зваць"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "be",
"lang": "Belarusian",
"lang_code": "be",
"roman": "abavjazácʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "абавяза́ць"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "zadălžavam",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "задължавам"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"lang_code": "ca",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obligar"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"lang_code": "cmn",
"roman": "qiǎngpò",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "强迫"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "da",
"lang": "Danish",
"lang_code": "da",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forpligte"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"lang_code": "nl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "verplichten"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "velvoittaa"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "pakottaa"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "imposer"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obliger"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obrigar"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forzar"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "constrinxir"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "verpflichten"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "el",
"lang": "Greek",
"lang_code": "el",
"roman": "ypochreóno",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "υποχρεώνω"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"lang_code": "hu",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "kötelez"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obbligare"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forzare"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "costringere"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"alt": "ぎむづける",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "gimuzukeru",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "義務付ける"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "nb",
"lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
"lang_code": "nb",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forplikte"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "nn",
"lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
"lang_code": "nn",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forplikte"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "zobowiązywać"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "zobowiązać"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obrigar"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"lang_code": "ro",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obliga"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "objázyvatʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "обя́зывать"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "objazátʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "обяза́ть"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obligar"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"lang_code": "sv",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "förplikta"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"lang_code": "uk",
"roman": "zobovʺjázuvaty",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "зобов'я́зувати"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"lang_code": "uk",
"roman": "zobovʺjazáty",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "зобов'яза́ти"
},
{
"_dis1": "99 0 0",
"code": "wa",
"lang": "Walloon",
"lang_code": "wa",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "oblidjî"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "32 40 28",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English calculator words",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "31 39 30",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "27 46 27",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Entries with translation boxes",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Belarusian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Catalan translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "15 66 19",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Danish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "26 48 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "26 48 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with French translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Galician translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with German translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "25 50 25",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Greek translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 55 25",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "23 55 23",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Italian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "23 55 23",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Japanese translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 54 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 51 28",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "13 71 16",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Norwegian Nynorsk translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "24 48 28",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Polish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 57 24",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 54 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Romanian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "23 55 23",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Russian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "24 52 24",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 54 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Ukrainian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 53 26",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Walloon translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
3,
10
]
],
"text": "He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
11,
18
]
],
"text": "The singer obliged(us) with an encore.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
65,
71
]
],
"ref": "1719, John Harris, Astronomical dialogues between a gentleman and a lady, page 151:",
"text": "In the mean time I have another trouble to give you, if you will oblige me in it; and that is to get me a sight of the famous Orrery, which I have heard you and others so often speak of; and which I think was made by Mr. Rowley, the famous Mathematical Instrument-Maker.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
154,
161
]
],
"ref": "2026 July 28, Nicholas Muhoro, “The Open Water True Story: How Tom and Eileen Lonergan Were Left Behind at Sea”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 29 Jul 2026:",
"text": "They also asked to dive as a buddy pair rather than with an instructor. Considering their previous experience of more than 80 logged dives each, the crew obliged.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)."
],
"id": "en-oblige-en-verb-LPJto9Ns",
"links": [
[
"service",
"service"
],
[
"favour",
"favour"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, intransitive) To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "accommodate"
}
],
"tags": [
"intransitive",
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "pravja usluga",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "правя услуга"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "uslužvam",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "услужвам"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "usluža",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "услужа"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"lang_code": "cmn",
"roman": "bāngmáng",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "幫忙 /帮忙"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"lang_code": "nl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "een plezier doen"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"lang_code": "nl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "plezieren"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "tehdä palvelus"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "rendre service à"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "obliger"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "facer o favor"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "facer favor"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "einen Gefallen tun"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "fare un favore"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "indebitarsi"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"alt": "せわをする",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "sewa o suru",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "世話をする"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "sābisu suru",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "サービスする"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "délatʹ odolžénije",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "де́лать одолже́ние"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "sdélatʹ odolžénije",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "сде́лать одолже́ние"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "favorecer"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "complacer"
},
{
"_dis1": "1 98 1",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "serviciar"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
10,
17
]
],
"text": "I am much obliged to you for your recent help.",
"type": "example"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To cause somebody to feel indebted."
],
"id": "en-oblige-en-verb-MxeRySNJ",
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To cause somebody to feel indebted."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "zadălžen săm",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "задължен съм"
},
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "olla velassa"
},
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "être redevable à"
},
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"code": "el",
"lang": "Greek",
"lang_code": "el",
"roman": "eímai evgnómon",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "είμαι ευγνώμων"
},
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"lang_code": "hu",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "lekötelez"
},
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"alt": "おんぎがある",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "ongi ga aru",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "恩義がある"
},
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"alt": "せわになる",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "sewa ni naru",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "世話になる"
},
{
"_dis1": "10 10 81",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "bytʹ objázannym",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "быть обя́занным"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/"
},
{
"rhymes": "-aɪdʒ"
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-oblige.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/ab/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/ab/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav.ogg",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/əˈbliːd͡ʒ/",
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɒˈbliːd͡ʒ/",
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"word": "oblige"
}
{
"categories": [
"English calculator words",
"English control verbs",
"English doublets",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English terms derived from Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Old French",
"English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leyǵ-",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 3 entries",
"Pages with entries",
"Rhymes:English/aɪdʒ",
"Rhymes:English/aɪdʒ/2 syllables",
"Terms with Armenian translations",
"Terms with Belarusian translations",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with Catalan translations",
"Terms with Danish translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with Galician translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Greek translations",
"Terms with Hungarian translations",
"Terms with Italian translations",
"Terms with Japanese translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations",
"Terms with Norwegian Nynorsk translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"Terms with Romanian translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Swedish translations",
"Terms with Ukrainian translations",
"Terms with Walloon translations"
],
"derived": [
{
"word": "disoblige"
},
{
"word": "misoblige"
},
{
"word": "obligable"
},
{
"word": "obligement"
},
{
"word": "reoblige"
}
],
"etymology_links": [
[
"obligen",
"obligen#Middle_English"
],
[
"obligier",
"obligier#Old_French"
],
[
"obliger",
"obliger#Old_French"
],
[
"obligō, obligāre",
"obligo#Latin"
],
[
"ob-",
"ob-#Latin"
],
[
"ligō",
"ligo#Latin"
],
[
"obligate",
"obligate#English"
]
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*leyǵ-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "obligen"
},
"expansion": "Middle English obligen",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "fro",
"3": "obligier"
},
"expansion": "Old French obligier",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "obligo",
"4": "obligō, obligāre"
},
"expansion": "Latin obligō, obligāre",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "obligate"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of obligate",
"name": "doublet"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "obliges",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "obliging",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "obliged",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "obliged",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "oblige (third-person singular simple present obliges, present participle obliging, simple past and past participle obliged)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"related": [
{
"word": "liable"
},
{
"word": "much obliged"
},
{
"word": "noblesse oblige"
},
{
"word": "obligate"
},
{
"word": "obligation"
},
{
"word": "obligatory"
},
{
"word": "obligee"
},
{
"word": "obligor"
},
{
"word": "rely"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
18,
24
]
],
"text": "Your carelessness obliges firmness on my part.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
5,
12
]
],
"text": "I am obliged to report to the police station every week.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
187,
194
]
],
"english": "Fanny Hill",
"ref": "1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:",
"text": "Tho' he was some time awake before me, yet did he not offer to disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first stirring, which was not till past ten o'clock, I was oblig'd to endure one more trial of his manhood.",
"translation": "Fanny Hill",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means."
],
"links": [
[
"constrain",
"constrain"
],
[
"force",
"force"
],
[
"social",
"social"
],
[
"moral",
"moral"
],
[
"legal",
"legal"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"formal"
],
"word": "necessitate"
}
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English intransitive verbs",
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
3,
10
]
],
"text": "He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
11,
18
]
],
"text": "The singer obliged(us) with an encore.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
65,
71
]
],
"ref": "1719, John Harris, Astronomical dialogues between a gentleman and a lady, page 151:",
"text": "In the mean time I have another trouble to give you, if you will oblige me in it; and that is to get me a sight of the famous Orrery, which I have heard you and others so often speak of; and which I think was made by Mr. Rowley, the famous Mathematical Instrument-Maker.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
154,
161
]
],
"ref": "2026 July 28, Nicholas Muhoro, “The Open Water True Story: How Tom and Eileen Lonergan Were Left Behind at Sea”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 29 Jul 2026:",
"text": "They also asked to dive as a buddy pair rather than with an instructor. Considering their previous experience of more than 80 logged dives each, the crew obliged.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)."
],
"links": [
[
"service",
"service"
],
[
"favour",
"favour"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, intransitive) To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "accommodate"
}
],
"tags": [
"intransitive",
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with usage examples",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
10,
17
]
],
"text": "I am much obliged to you for your recent help.",
"type": "example"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To cause somebody to feel indebted."
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To cause somebody to feel indebted."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/"
},
{
"rhymes": "-aɪdʒ"
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-oblige.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/ab/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/ab/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-I_learned_some_phrases-oblige.wav.ogg",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/əˈbliːd͡ʒ/",
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɒˈbliːd͡ʒ/",
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "hy",
"lang": "Armenian",
"lang_code": "hy",
"roman": "partadrel",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "պարտադրել"
},
{
"code": "hy",
"lang": "Armenian",
"lang_code": "hy",
"roman": "partavorecʻnel",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "պարտավորեցնել"
},
{
"code": "be",
"lang": "Belarusian",
"lang_code": "be",
"roman": "abavjázvacʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "абавя́зваць"
},
{
"code": "be",
"lang": "Belarusian",
"lang_code": "be",
"roman": "abavjazácʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "абавяза́ць"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "zadălžavam",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "задължавам"
},
{
"code": "ca",
"lang": "Catalan",
"lang_code": "ca",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obligar"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"lang_code": "cmn",
"roman": "qiǎngpò",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "强迫"
},
{
"code": "da",
"lang": "Danish",
"lang_code": "da",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forpligte"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"lang_code": "nl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "verplichten"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "velvoittaa"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "pakottaa"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "imposer"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obliger"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obrigar"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forzar"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "constrinxir"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "verpflichten"
},
{
"code": "el",
"lang": "Greek",
"lang_code": "el",
"roman": "ypochreóno",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "υποχρεώνω"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"lang_code": "hu",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "kötelez"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obbligare"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forzare"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "costringere"
},
{
"alt": "ぎむづける",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "gimuzukeru",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "義務付ける"
},
{
"code": "nb",
"lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
"lang_code": "nb",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forplikte"
},
{
"code": "nn",
"lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
"lang_code": "nn",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "forplikte"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "zobowiązywać"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "zobowiązać"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obrigar"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"lang_code": "ro",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obliga"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "objázyvatʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "обя́зывать"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "objazátʹ",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "обяза́ть"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "obligar"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"lang_code": "sv",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "förplikta"
},
{
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"lang_code": "uk",
"roman": "zobovʺjázuvaty",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "зобов'я́зувати"
},
{
"code": "uk",
"lang": "Ukrainian",
"lang_code": "uk",
"roman": "zobovʺjazáty",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "зобов'яза́ти"
},
{
"code": "wa",
"lang": "Walloon",
"lang_code": "wa",
"sense": "to constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means",
"word": "oblidjî"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "pravja usluga",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "правя услуга"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "uslužvam",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "услужвам"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "usluža",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "услужа"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"lang_code": "cmn",
"roman": "bāngmáng",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "幫忙 /帮忙"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"lang_code": "nl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "een plezier doen"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"lang_code": "nl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "plezieren"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "tehdä palvelus"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "rendre service à"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "obliger"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "facer o favor"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "facer favor"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "einen Gefallen tun"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "fare un favore"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"lang_code": "it",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "indebitarsi"
},
{
"alt": "せわをする",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "sewa o suru",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "世話をする"
},
{
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "sābisu suru",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "サービスする"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "délatʹ odolžénije",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "де́лать одолже́ние"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "sdélatʹ odolžénije",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"tags": [
"perfective"
],
"word": "сде́лать одолже́ние"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "favorecer"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "complacer"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation)",
"word": "serviciar"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "zadălžen săm",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "задължен съм"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "olla velassa"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"lang_code": "fr",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "être redevable à"
},
{
"code": "el",
"lang": "Greek",
"lang_code": "el",
"roman": "eímai evgnómon",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "είμαι ευγνώμων"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"lang_code": "hu",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "lekötelez"
},
{
"alt": "おんぎがある",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "ongi ga aru",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "恩義がある"
},
{
"alt": "せわになる",
"code": "ja",
"lang": "Japanese",
"lang_code": "ja",
"roman": "sewa ni naru",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"word": "世話になる"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "bytʹ objázannym",
"sense": "to be indebted to someone",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "быть обя́занным"
}
],
"word": "oblige"
}
Download raw JSONL data for oblige meaning in English (18.1kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-25 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (1a05e46 and e3d6d4e). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.