obligate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to bind or oblige morally or legally.
to obligate oneself to purchase a building.
-
to pledge, commit, or bind (funds, property, etc.) to meet an obligation.
adjective
-
morally or legally bound; obliged; constrained.
-
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
-
to compel, constrain, or oblige morally or legally
-
(in the US) to bind (property, funds, etc) as security
adjective
-
compelled, bound, or restricted
-
biology able to exist under only one set of environmental conditions Compare facultative
an obligate parasite cannot live independently of its host
-
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.
-
Compare facultative
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
obligatornoun
-
obligableadjective
-
preobligateverb (used with object)
-
reobligateverb (used with object)
-
obligativeadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has obligatedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have obligatedperfect
-
have been obligatingperfect progressive
-
are obligatingprogressive
-
is obligatingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
has been obligatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am obligatingprogressive 1st person singular
-
obligatingparticiple
-
obligatessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had obligatedperfect
-
were obligatingprogressive plural
-
had been obligatingperfect progressive
-
obligatedsimple
-
was obligatingprogressive singular
-
obligatedparticiple
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)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week In Words: July 11–17, 2020
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Step from Heaven
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Obligate multicellular organisms are those that must exist in a multicellular form throughout their life cycle.
From Science Daily • May 21, 2024
Obligate carnivores are those that rely entirely on animal flesh to obtain their nutrients; examples of obligate carnivores are members of the cat family, such as lions and cheetahs.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Obligate anaerobes live and grow in the absence of molecular oxygen.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
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.
