Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):
   • To require or compel someone to do something by legal, moral, or social force: To bind or constrain someone to a particular course of action.
   • To do a service or favor for someone: To accommodate or help someone, often in response to a request.

Usage and Examples

• To compel or bind:
  • The contract obliges the company to pay within 30 days.
  • I felt obliged to tell the truth.
• To do a favor or service:
  • Could you oblige me by passing the salt?
  • She was happy to oblige with their request for information.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "To be obliged to (someone)": To be grateful or indebted to someone for a favor.
  • I am much obliged to you for your assistance.
• "Much obliged": A formal or old-fashioned expression of thanks.
  • "Here's the book you wanted." "Much obliged."
• "To feel obliged to do something": To feel a strong sense of duty or moral pressure to do something.
  • He felt obliged to offer his seat to the elderly woman.

Variants and Related Words

• Obligation (n): A duty or commitment.
  • He has a legal obligation to appear in court.
• Obligatory (adj): Required by a rule or law; mandatory.
  • Attendance at the meeting is obligatory.
• Obliging (adj): Willing to do favors; helpful and accommodating.
  • The hotel staff were very obliging.

Synonyms

• Compel: To force or drive someone to do something.
• Require: To need for a particular purpose; to make necessary.
• Bind: To tie or fasten; to impose a legal or moral constraint.
• Accommodate: To fit in with the wishes or needs of.

Antonyms

• Release: To set free from an obligation or constraint.
• Disoblige: To refuse or fail to do a favor for someone.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions

• Oblige someone with something: To provide someone with something as a favor.
  • The pianist obliged the audience with an encore.
• Oblige by doing something: To do a favor by performing a specific action.
  • Would you oblige by turning down the music?

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Under no obligation: Not required or compelled to do something.
  • You are under no obligation to buy anything.
• My hands are tied / I am obliged to...: Used to express that one is forced to act in a certain way by rules or circumstances.
  • I'm afraid my hands are tied; the rules oblige me to report this.

Verb

1. provide a service or favor for someone
   • We had to oblige him
2. bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
   • He's held by a contract
   • I'll hold you by your promise
3. force somebody to do something
   • We compel all students to fill out this form