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obliged. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
obliged, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
obliged in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
obliged you have here. The definition of the word
obliged will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
obliged, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /əˈblaɪd͡ʒd/
- Hyphenation, UK: ob‧liged; US: obliged
Adjective
obliged (comparative more obliged, superlative most obliged)
- Under an obligation to do something.
- All employees are obliged to complete a tax return every year.
- Grateful or indebted because of a favor done.
- I'm greatly obliged for your help with this problem.
Usage notes
In sense “under obligation”, synonymous with obligated, though the latter is only used in American English and some dialects such as Scottish, not standard British.
In dialects where both obliged and obligated are used, there is no standard distinction drawn, though individuals may distinguish nuance or use idiosyncratically. In technical discussions, particularly legal ones such as The Concept of Law by H. L. A. Hart (1961), the words may carry different meanings, such as obligations inherent to a relationship versus ones externally imposed.
The "grateful or indebted" sense is considered dated in some contexts.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
Under an obligation to do something for someone
Indebted because of a favor done
Verb
obliged
- simple past and past participle of oblige
References
- ^ Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, p. 675
- ^ The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage (1996)