obligate
Americanverb (used with object)
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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 (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
- obligable adjective
- obligative adjective
- obligator noun
- preobligate verb (used with object)
- reobligate verb (used with object)
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; ob-, ligate
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.
Financial advisers are legally obligated to disclose such revenue sharing, and they typically must do this in writing.
From MarketWatch
A Justice Department official said leadership officials were obligated to intervene when bureaucrats make moves inconsistent with the agency’s enforcement policies.
I didn’t know why I felt obligated to explain myself at all, but I couldn’t very well share my real reason.
From Literature
Ethir said she believes the department has not provided all the records it is legally obligated to give the officers.
From Los Angeles Times
Sri Lanka’s defense secretary said the country is obligated to make sure the Iranians it now holds don’t join the war.
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.
