obliged

American  

[uh-blahyjd] / əˈblaɪdʒd /

adjective

1. bound by duty, ethics, or politeness.

   You can bring something to share at the picnic, but please don't feel obliged.

2. forced by law, regulation, or necessity.

   All students are obliged to participate in an internship program.

3. appreciative or grateful.

   If you could shed some light on this mystery, I'd be obliged.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of oblige.

idioms

1. (very) much obliged, thank you (very much).

   Much obliged for your efforts!

Other Word Forms

• obligedly adverb
• obligedness noun
• unobliged adjective

Etymology

Origin of obliged

oblige ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Gil Blas, a Spaniard born without social standing, becomes caught up with grifters and is obliged to live by his wits.

From The Wall Street Journal

Am I ethically and legally obliged to fix this?

From MarketWatch

But at a certain point traders reliant on borrowing are obliged to sell even good assets to cover their losses.

From Barron's

When you break up with someone, whether it’s a cleaning person or a friend or a romantic partner, you are not obliged to give them a list of their faults.

From MarketWatch

If all parents are legally obliged to keep their kids off social media, the coordination problem is solved.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• compelled
• duty-bound
• enslaved
• indebted
• obligated