obey

[ oh-bey ]

verb (used with object)

1. to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of:

   to obey one's parents.

2. to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction, etc.).
3. (of things) to respond conformably in action to:

   The car obeyed the slightest touch of the steering wheel.

4. to submit or conform in action to (some guiding principle, impulse, one's conscience, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to be obedient:

   to agree to obey.

obey

/ əˈbeɪ /

verb

1. to carry out (instructions or orders); comply with (demands)
2. to behave or act in accordance with (one's feelings, whims, etc)

Derived Forms

• oˈbeyer, noun

Other Words From

• o·beya·ble adjective
• o·beyer noun
• o·beying·ly adverb
• uno·beyed adjective
• uno·beying adjective
• well-o·beyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obey¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of obey¹

C13: from Old French obéir, from Latin oboedīre, from ob- to, towards + audīre to hear

Example Sentences

She agreed several times that “no one is above the law,” but she warned that the Supreme Court has no real recourse to ensure that people, including the president, obeyed its orders.

From Washington Post

“The Supreme Court can’t control what the president obeys,” she said flatly.

From Washington Post

If they obey and seem comfortable, there’s a good chance your pup will survive the day without you.

From Popular-Science

They provide continuous information, so that the population can have real-time updates, and then believe in the government and strictly obey all their guidelines.

From MIT Technology Review

The strong force operating between quarks obeys very complicated rules—so complicated, in fact, that usually the only way to calculate its effects is to use approximations and supercomputers.

From Singularity Hub 

Those advocating justice should first obey the rule of law themselves.

From The Daily Beast

This argument is vital to a larger argument: Do we obey the rules set up to constrain government or not?

From The Daily Beast

THE DISHONOR OF HONOR KILLINGS Imagine a young woman killed by her own relatives for failing to obey.

From The Daily Beast

No soldier is obliged to obey a law contrary to the law of God.

From The Daily Beast

I continue to live here, work here, pay the taxes and obey the law.

From The Daily Beast

The sepoys refused to obey, and the sowars, drawing their pistols, shot dead or severely wounded six British officers.

From Project Gutenberg

At the Flagstaff Tower the 74th and the remainder of the 38th suddenly told their officers that they would obey them no longer.

From Project Gutenberg

He felt very sorry for the Temecula people, the sheriff did; but he had to obey the law himself.

From Project Gutenberg

He understood, and would obey; but his eyes followed her wistfully till she disappeared from sight.

From Project Gutenberg

When he was only three years old the huge creature would obey him and allow him to drive anywhere he pleased.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accept
• adhere to
• carry out
• comply
• embrace
• execute
• heed
• live by
• observe
• surrender