B2noun · countable / uncountable · common

obligation

obligation · obligations

зобов'язання, обов'язок, повинність, борг

обязанность, долг, обязательство

Pflicht, Verpflichtung

The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someoneThe act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.

ⓘ

UK/ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/US/ˌɑ.blɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/

» We have an obligation to do our best.

Мы обязаны сделать всё возможное.

Ми зобов'язані зробити все можливе.

Meaning

5 senses

(countable, uncountable)The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
Verpflichtung, Pflicht
обяза́тельствоobjazátelʹstvo, долгdolg, обя́занностьobjázannostʹ
зобов'я́занняzobovʺjázannja, зобов'яза́нняzobovʺjazánnja, пови́нністьpovýnnistʹ
(countable, uncountable)A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
I feel I'm under obligation to attend my sister's wedding, even though we have a very frosty relationship.
обя́занностьobjázannostʹ, долгdolg
обо́в'язокobóvʺjazok, пови́нністьpovýnnistʹ
(countable, uncountable)A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
обя́занностьobjázannostʹ
(countable, uncountable)A legal agreement stipulating a specified action or forbearance by a party to the agreement; the document containing such agreement.
a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply
(countable)Reason for being obliged to, that is, grateful for, something.

Examples

97 sentences

We have an obligation to do our best.
Ми зобов'язані зробити все можливе.
ruМы обязаны сделать всё возможное.
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You have no obligation to help.
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We have an obligation to try.
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I think that that's our obligation.
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I intend to honor my obligation.
deIch beabsichtige, meiner Verpflichtung nachzukommen.
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Translations

9 languages

Українська

By meaning 1

act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone:

Русский

By meaning 1

act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone:

Deutsch

By meaning 1

act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone:

Origin

From Middle English obligacioun, from Old French obligacion, from Latin obligatio, obligat

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”).

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

plural: obligations

Singular	obligation
Plural	obligations

regular

Synonyms

6 synonyms

the act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone:commitmentA2

requirement, duty, contract or promise:dutyB1

Close in meaning

a personal relation in which one is indebted for a service or favor:indebtedness
a written promise to repay a debt:debt instrument certificate of indebtedness
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force:duty responsibility

Word family

15 related words

Derivedcounterobligation debt obligation disobligation moral obligation

Lessons for this word

1 lessons

A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable

Collocations

3 patterns

an an obligation
an obligation to
obligation to do