obligation

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
2. (countable, uncountable) A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
3. (countable, uncountable) A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
4. (countable, uncountable) A legal agreement stipulating a specified action or forbearance by a party to the agreement; the document containing such agreement.
5. (countable) Reason for being obliged to, that is, grateful for, something.

Synonyms

duty

responsibility

commitment

debt

indebtedness

task

liability

charge

bond

burden

favour

onus

necessity

debt of gratitude

constraint

debenture

promise

pledge

engagement

business

compulsion

encumbrance

accountability

coercion

favor

care

debt instrument

incumbency

certificate of indebtedness

necessary action

contract

promissory note

must

enforcement

office

🏢

kindness

devotion

desire

dependence

demand

certainty

declaration

joint responsibility

job

involve

assistance

activities

credit

help

haste

Translations

obligation

obligación

devoir

Pflicht

Verpflichtung

obrigação

dovere

obligació

obbligazione

verplichting

واجب

obbligo

υποχρέωση

deber

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɑb.ləˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: obligacioun

In summary

From Middle English obligacioun, from Old French obligacion, from Latin obligatio, obligationem, from obligatum (past participle of obligare), from ob- (“to”) + ligare (“to bind”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind”).

Sentences

To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation .