obligate

[verb ob-li-geyt; adjective ob-li-git, -geyt]

See more synonyms for obligate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing.

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.
necessary; essential.
Biology. restricted to a particular condition of life, as certain organisms that can survive only in the absence of oxygen: obligate anaerobe (opposed to facultative).

Origin of obligate

1400–50; late Middle English obligat (adj.) < Latin obligātus (past participle of obligāre to bind), equivalent to ob- ob- + ligātus; see ligate

Related formsob·li·ga·ble

[ob-li-guh-buh l] /ˈɒb lɪ gə bəl/, adjectiveob·li·ga·tor, nounnon·ob·li·gat·ed, adjectivepre·ob·li·gate, verb (used with object), pre·ob·li·gat·ed, pre·ob·li·gat·ing.qua·si-ob·li·gat·ed, adjectivere·ob·li·gate, verb (used with object), re·ob·li·gat·ed, re·ob·li·gat·ing.un·ob·li·gat·ed, adjective

Can be confusedobligate oblige

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for obligated

Contemporary Examples

Starting in 1966, Korean movie theaters were obligated to show at least six domestic films for more than 90 days.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea
Rich Goldstein
December 30, 2014
“The Palestinians under Oslo are obligated to do everything they can,” he said.
Israeli Intel Chief: Hamas Is Just Like ISIS
Eli Lake
July 1, 2014
“But he was not obligated to do that by the resolution itself,” McFaul said.
Russia’s Ace in the Hole: a Super-Missile It Can Sell to Iran
Eli Lake
April 8, 2014
But the agency is obligated under the law to inquire about an applicant's activities.
IRS Deems Pro-Israel Group ‘Touch and Go’
Sarah Posner
June 26, 2013
There simply is not enough city there to finance the payments they are obligated to pay.
Saving Detroit: When a Big City Stops Being Big
Megan McArdle
May 13, 2013

Historical Examples

You have the horse and are obligated to give an entertainment for the Nazarenes in Adot.
David Lannarck, Midget
George S. Harney
It is in the sense of a historian bound and obligated to truth that we view him.
Hidden Treasures
Harry A. Lewis
On the other hand, we are obligated to protect the interests of galactic citizens.
Alarm Clock
Everett B. Cole
To these men we are obligated for our growth and development.
Fundamentals of Prosperity
Roger W. Babson
You are not obligated at present to go to the Copyright Office to ask any questions.
Arguments before the Committee on Patents of the House of Representatives, conjointly with the Senate Committee on Patents, on H.R. 19853, to amend and consolidate the acts respecting copyright
United States Committee on Patents

British Dictionary definitions for obligated

obligate

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 conditionsan obligate parasite cannot live independently of its host Compare facultative (def. 4)

Derived Formsobligable, adjectiveobligative, adjectiveobligator, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin obligāre to oblige

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for obligated

obligate

v.

1540s, "to bind, connect;" 1660s, "to put under moral obligation," back-formation from obligation, or else from Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare (see oblige). Oblige, with which it has been confused since late 17c., means "to do one a favor." Related: Obligated; obligating.

obligated in Medicine

obligate

(ŏb′lĭ-gĭt, -gāt′)

adj.

Able to exist or survive only in a particular environment or by assuming a particular role.

obligated in Science

obligate

[ŏb′lĭ-gĭt, -gāt′]

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.

obligate

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}obligate

Examples from the Web for obligated

Contemporary Examples

Starting in 1966, Korean movie theaters were obligated to show at least six domestic films for more than 90 days.

“The Palestinians under Oslo are obligated to do everything they can,” he said.

“But he was not obligated to do that by the resolution itself,” McFaul said.

But the agency is obligated under the law to inquire about an applicant's activities.

There simply is not enough city there to finance the payments they are obligated to pay.

Historical Examples

You have the horse and are obligated to give an entertainment for the Nazarenes in Adot.

It is in the sense of a historian bound and obligated to truth that we view him.

On the other hand, we are obligated to protect the interests of galactic citizens.

To these men we are obligated for our growth and development.

You are not obligated at present to go to the Copyright Office to ask any questions.

obligate

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for obligated

obligate

v.

obligate

obligate

Origin of obligate