obliged

[uh-blahyjd]

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.

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• obligedly adverb
• obligedness noun
• unobliged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obliged¹

oblige ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   Much obliged for your efforts!

Example Sentences

In return for permission to build extra apartments, the developers of the store and 40 others were obliged to allocate space for a supermarket.

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Kyiv would be obliged to respond to any violations of electoral laws by such candidates and bar them from participating.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 424 B.C., he was exiled for 20 years after failing to block its advance—a humiliation that obliged him to reappear in his own narrative.

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No-one is found guilty or innocent, but an inquiry publishes conclusions and recommendations, which the government is not obliged to accept.

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But because of asylum laws, countries are legally obliged to hear their cases.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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