Word
obedient
Phoneticsobe·di·ent
US/oʊˈbidiənt/
UK/əʊbˈiːdiənt/
Definition
adj. willing to do what you are told and follow the rules. People use this to describe children or pets who listen well to their parents or owners.
adj. complying with or willing to submit to orders or requests; submissive to another's authority. Often used to describe children, animals, or subordinates in a hierarchical structure.
Examples
“The obedient dog sat down as soon as its owner spoke.”
“The students remained quiet and obedient throughout the principal's long speech about school safety.”
“While some praised the soldiers for being perfectly obedient to their commanders, others questioned whether they should have challenged the unethical orders.”
Examples
simple
“The obedient dog sat down as soon as its owner spoke.”
contextual
“The students remained quiet and obedient throughout the principal's long speech about school safety.”
complex
“While some praised the soldiers for being perfectly obedient to their commanders, others questioned whether they should have challenged the unethical orders.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'remain' or 'stay', or attributively before a noun.
Real-World Examples
“These were not simply obedient tools carrying out their designers’ wishes.” “Luca starts out as a shy, obedient kid.” Etymology
From Middle English obedient, from Old French obedient, from Latin oboediēns, present active participle of oboediō (“obey”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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