obliged

American  

[uh-blahyjd] / əˈblaɪdʒd /

adjective

1. bound by duty, ethics, or politeness.

   You can bring something to share at the picnic, but please don't feel obliged.

2. forced by law, regulation, or necessity.

   All students are obliged to participate in an internship program.

3. appreciative or grateful.

   If you could shed some light on this mystery, I'd be obliged.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of oblige.

idioms

1. (very) much obliged, thank you (very much).

   Much obliged for your efforts!

Other Word Forms

• obligedly adverb
• obligedness noun
• unobliged adjective

Etymology

Origin of obliged

oblige ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Despite the hotel waiving the fee for the team, they said they felt "obliged to reimburse" them to be able to rely on their support in the future.

From BBC

Treasury Department to ask the Federal Reserve to do a rate check, and that the U.S. central bank obliged.

From MarketWatch

The government is not obliged to accept these.

From BBC

European industrials, meanwhile, were no doubt buoyed by the developments in Greenland that suggest governments will be obliged to raise defense spending, hence the popularity of subsectors like aerospace and defense, machinery and electrical equipment.

From MarketWatch

Energy suppliers are legally obliged as part of their licence conditions to be a member of an independent customer dispute scheme.

From BBC

Related Words

• compelled
• duty-bound
• enslaved
• indebted
• obligated