obligate

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

/ verb ˈɒb lɪˌgeɪt; adjective ˈɒb lɪ gɪt, -ˌgeɪt /

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See synonyms for: obligate / obligated 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 (opposed to facultative): obligate anaerobe.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM obligate

ob·li·ga·ble

[ob-li-guh-buhl], /ˈɒb lɪ gə bəl/, adjectiveob·li·ga·tor, nounpre·ob·li·gate, verb (used with object), pre·ob·li·gat·ed, pre·ob·li·gat·ing.re·ob·li·gate, verb (used with object), re·ob·li·gat·ed, re·ob·li·gat·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obligate

obligate , oblige

Words nearby obligate

obl., oblanceolate, oblast, oblate, oblation, obligate, obligated, obligation, obligational, obligational authority, obligative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use obligate in a sentence

Alvarez told Voice of San Diego that he couldn’t discuss the nature of his work at the Water Authority because his contract obligates him to maintain confidentiality.
Water Authority’s Confidential Consultant Contracts Surprised Board|MacKenzie Elmer|August 4, 2021|Voice of San Diego
She’s obligated to give location information to local cities to help with their containment efforts but vowed only to publicly identify a specific location if, in her opinion, it constituted an ongoing threat.
Appellate Court Says San Diego County Can Keep COVID-19 Outbreak Data Secret|Jesse Marx|August 3, 2021|Voice of San Diego
The USPS hasn’t been obligated to make changes or pay penalties for any of the reported safety hazards.
A Postal Worker Begged for Stronger COVID-19 Protections. She Ended Up Spending Six Weeks in the Hospital.|by Maryam Jameel|July 16, 2021|ProPublica
Through the 19th and early 20th centuries, presidents were often creatures of their parties, dependent on state and local party leaders to nominate them, and as such, often obligated to reward them with appointments in the federal government.
Presidents Used To Be The Faces Of Their Political Parties. Is That No Longer The Case?|Julia Azari|July 13, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

Each person was obligated to give a toast during the marathon event.
Inside the FBI, Russia, and Ukraine’s failed cybercrime investigation|Patrick Howell O'Neill|July 8, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Even then, the settlement does not obligate the Wilpon/Katz crowd until year four to make payment of half of what is still owed.
Inside the Mets’ Madoff Payout|Allan Dodds Frank|March 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The same reasons that obligate a person to accept circumcision also obligate a person to accept the whole Law.
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians|Martin Luther
Similarly, he who would be under obligation to none must obligate himself to all in every respect.
Epistle Sermons, Vol. II|Martin Luther
The best way, then, to be under obligation to none is, through love to obligate one's self in every respect to all men.
Epistle Sermons, Vol. II|Martin Luther
"Me and Si Klegg'll march 'em over there, and obligate ourselves not to lose a rooster of 'em," said Shorty.
Si Klegg, Book 5 (of 6)|John McElroy
The mere fact that I happened to save your life does not obligate me to marry you, Miss Wharton.
The Trail Horde|Charles Alden Seltzer

British Dictionary definitions for obligate

obligate

/ (ˈɒblɪˌɡeɪt) /

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 forms of obligate

obligable, adjectiveobligative, adjectiveobligator, noun

Word Origin for obligate

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

Scientific definitions for obligate

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 obligate

OTHER WORDS FROM obligate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obligate

Words nearby obligate

Words related to obligate

How to use obligate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obligate

Derived forms of obligate

Word Origin for obligate

Scientific definitions for obligate