oblige

Meaning

1. To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.
2. To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).
3. To be indebted to someone.

Synonyms

compel

force

obligate

coerce

constrain

bind

make

impose

require

please

enforce

accommodate

press

gratify

impel

necessitate

drive

help

humor

relieve

mandate

support

thrust

assert

hold

inflict

make glad

motivate

obliged

play up

pledge

prescribe

press on

pressurise

presume

presuppose

put on

round up

run down

satisfy

serve

service

stipulate

subserve

suit

supply

take

tax

tie

be grateful

cry for

be obligatory

control one’s mind

treat with kindness

hold under obligation

postulate

amuse

apply

be obliged

be so kind as to

bestow

bind over

call for

catch up with

cause

charm

compulsory

confer

content

delight

demand

enjoin

entertain

equip

favor

favour

follow

give thanks

gracious

impose upon

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: obligen

In summary

From Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin.