obligate
Americanverb (used with object)
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obligates,
present (3rd person singular)
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obligated,
past participle, past
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obligating
present participle
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to bind or oblige morally or legally.
to obligate oneself to purchase a building.
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to pledge, commit, or bind (funds, property, etc.) to meet an obligation.
adjective
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morally or legally bound; obliged; constrained.
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Biology. restricted to a particular condition of life, as certain organisms that can survive only in the absence of oxygen (opposed to facultative).
obligate anaerobe.
verb
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to compel, constrain, or oblige morally or legally
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(in the US) to bind (property, funds, etc) as security
adjective
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compelled, bound, or restricted
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biology able to exist under only one set of environmental conditions Compare facultative
an obligate parasite cannot live independently of its host
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Capable of existing only in a particular environment or by assuming a particular role. An obligate aerobe, such as certain bacteria, can live only in the presence of oxygen. An obligate parasite cannot survive independently of its host.
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Compare facultative
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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obligatornoun
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preobligateverb (used with object)
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reobligateverb (used with object)
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obligableadjective
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obligativeadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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obligatesimple
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obligatessimple
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have obligatedperfect
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has obligatedperfect
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am obligatingprogressive
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are obligatingprogressive
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is obligatingprogressive
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have been obligatingperfect progressive
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has been obligatingperfect progressive
Past
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obligatedsimple
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had obligatedperfect
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was obligatingprogressive
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were obligatingprogressive
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had been obligatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of obligate
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English obligat, from Latin obligātus (past participle of obligāre “to bind”), equivalent to ob- + ligātus; see ob-, ligate
Explanation
To obligate is to either force someone to do something or be compelled to do something. You’re obligated to get to work on time if you want to keep your job. Obligating has to do with responsibilities. When you have a job, you're obligated to show up and do your work. You could also say the job obligates you to do these things. Obligate, which is about obligations (duties), can be used another way – to commit as security. Money would be obligated, or put up as security. Obligate is not the same thing as oblige, which is like doing a favor. To obligate is meaner, it means “to force.”
Vocabulary lists containing obligate
Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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This Week In Words: July 11–17, 2020
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A Step from Heaven
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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.
See Examples For:
Just because someone contacted me didn’t obligate me to reply instantly.
From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026
"Bifidobacterium is an obligate anaerobe, so it doesn't grow in the presence of oxygen," Mimee said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026
It’s more common than many people realize, and being named as executor does not obligate you to accept the role.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
“We are currently planning to obligate all appropriated balances, consistent with law.”
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
Some writers on etiquette speak of "correct introductions" that carry "obligations of future acquaintance," and "incorrect introductions," that seemingly obligate one to nothing.
From Etiquette by Emily Post
The “covered call” strategy lowers the stock purchase price by the received call premium and obligates investors to sell stock higher.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
The Fair Housing Amendments Act obligates the landlord to offer “reasonable accommodations” to tenants with disabilities, emotional and otherwise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
These courts stuck with the rulebook, which obligates them to follow precedent until it’s formally overturned.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2025
And while she said her oath ethically obligates her to defend these children, she doesn’t know how the office will survive in its current form if payments don’t come in.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2025
The Haitian Government obligates itself ... to create without delay an efficient constabulary, urban and rural, composed of native Haitians.
From The American Empire by Scott Nearing
Agencies in the program aren’t obligated to request the federal money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, is contractually obligated to broadcast the games but will do so in bare-bones fashion, with no commentary, punditry or advertising.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Mercedes had two choices - stay out, or pit and change tyre compound, as drivers are obligated to use two compounds during a dry grand prix.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
The senator also said more of Bombardier’s planes should be built in the U.S., and he said the company is obligated to grow its footprint in Kansas.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
But publicly, they reviled it and were obligated to prosecute all slavers.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
"Gomez purported to sign a contract obligating her to perform and then ignored it," the lawsuit claims.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
A “phase one” trade deal signed in early 2020 addressed neither of those points, instead obligating China to buy more soybeans from American farmers—something Beijing largely failed to fulfill.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
If you recall the myth, you may be able to guess that he’s another loved one Dream condemns to suffering, obligating the supreme being to apologize yet again.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2025
It went on to say that state law gives top priority to lawsuits against a city’s general plan, obligating the court to hold a hearing within 120 days if requested.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2024
I mean that what seems an obligation to self is in reality a dimly apprehended duty—an obligation to the unknown God, and not to self, in which lies no causing, therefore no obligating power.'
From Wilfrid Cumbermede by George MacDonald
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.
