Word Verb
disobey
v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ/ UK /dˌɪsəʊbˈeɪ/ dis·obey UK spelling disobeyed, disobeying, disobeys
Definition
v.to refuse to follow a rule, a law, or an order from someone in authority.
v.to fail to comply with a command, law, or regulation. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the authority or instruction being ignored.
Examples
“The student was punished for disobeying the teacher.”
“The protesters were arrested for disobeying the curfew imposed by the local government.”
“By choosing to disobey the court's final order, the corporation faced significant financial penalties and a loss of public trust.”
Etymology
From Old French desobeir.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated