obey
Americanverb (used with object)
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to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of.
to obey one's parents.
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to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction, etc.).
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(of things) to respond conformably in action to.
The car obeyed the slightest touch of the steering wheel.
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to submit or conform in action to (some guiding principle, impulse, one's conscience, etc.).
verb (used without object)
verb
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to carry out (instructions or orders); comply with (demands)
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to behave or act in accordance with (one's feelings, whims, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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obeyinglyadverb
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well-obeyedadjective
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obeyableadjective
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unobeyingadjective
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unobeyedadjective
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obeyernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has obeyedperfect 3rd person singular
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have obeyedperfect
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am obeyingprogressive 1st person singular
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is obeyingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are obeyingprogressive
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have been obeyingperfect progressive
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has been obeyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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obeyingparticiple
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obeyssingular 3rd person
Past
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had obeyedperfect
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had been obeyingperfect progressive
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were obeyingprogressive plural
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obeyedparticiple
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was obeyingprogressive singular
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obeyedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of obey
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English obeien, from Old French obeir, from Latin oboedīre, equivalent to ob- ob- + audīre “to hear”; -oe- for expected -ū- is unclear
Explanation
When you obey, you follow someone's rules or instructions. In the old days, all of a monarchy's citizens were expected to obey the commands of their king or queen. You might be expected to obey the rules your strict parents lay down, or to obey the guidelines of a group or club you belong to. Religious Christians obey God, and soldiers obey the direct orders their commanding officers give them. To obey is to be obedient, and both words come from the Latin obedire, which literally means "listen to," but is used to mean "pay attention to."
Vocabulary lists containing obey
"Nadia the Willful"
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"Rachel the Clever"
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"The New England Primer"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So you’ll pick and choose which court orders you’ll obey?
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
Telling people to finish school, take care of their children and obey the law is excellent advice, but he argued that more is needed.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Instead of assuming a detailed theory from the start, scientists begin with a few broad principles they believe nature must obey and then determine what laws naturally emerge.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
One of the great strengths of American democracy is that the country’s military is nonpartisan, a trait that ensures officers and service members alike obey the Constitution and serve civilian authority.
From Salon • May 3, 2026
Could she find the Shetani with it, and if she did, could she order it to obey her again?
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
