obligate

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈɑbləɡeɪt/ UK /ˈɒblɪɡeɪt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to bind legally or morally; in biology, restricted to one mode of life

The contract obligates the firm to deliver by June.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to bind legally or morally;... bind compel require oblige constrain commit

Opposites

release free exempt absolve

Word family

Derived forms obligatorobligatory

Related forms oblige obligation obligee obligor ligature

Etymology

From Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare ('to bind to'), from ob- ('to') plus ligare ('to bind, tie').

obligare Latin ligare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# obligate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈɑbləɡeɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɒblɪɡeɪt/

## Meanings
1. to bind legally or morally; in biology, restricted to one mode of life

## Examples
- The contract obligates the firm to deliver by June.

## Synonyms
- bind
- compel
- require
- oblige
- constrain
- commit

## Antonyms
- release
- free
- exempt
- absolve

## Derived Forms
- obligator
- obligatory

## Related Forms
- oblige
- obligation
- obligee
- obligor
- ligature

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: obligare
- Root: ligare

## Etymology
From Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare ('to bind to'), from ob- ('to') plus ligare ('to bind, tie').

## AI Etymology
Obligate comes from Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare ('to bind to'), from ob- ('to') plus ligare ('to bind, tie'). The historical trail runs through Latin obligare and Latin ligare. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means to bind legally or morally; in biology, restricted to one mode of life. Derived formations include obligator, obligatory; related forms include oblige, obligation, obligee, obligor, ligature.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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