Word
obey
US/oʊˈbeɪ/
UK/əʊbˈeɪ/
Definitions
01to follow an order
B1 · Intermediate
v. to do what a person or an organization tells you to do.
v. to carry out the instructions or commands of a person or institution. Transitive when specifying the authority being followed.
日本語:従う※
“The dog is very well-trained and will obey its owner immediately.”
“Citizens are expected to obey the local authorities even when they disagree with specific administrative policies.”
Pitfall
The soldiers obeyed to the captain.
The soldiers obeyed the captain.
Do not use 'to' after obey when followed by a person or authority; it takes a direct object.
02to follow a rule or law
B1 · Intermediate
v. to follow a rule, a law, or a set of instructions.
v. to act in accordance with a law, principle, or physical force.
日本語:守る※
“Drivers must obey the speed limit to keep the roads safe.”
“Even the most complex machines must obey the fundamental laws of physics to function efficiently.”
03to be obedient
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to do what you are told without naming the person or rule.
v. to behave in an obedient manner. Intransitive use where the authority is implied by context.
日本語:従う※
“The children were taught from a young age that they must obey.”
“In a strict military environment, the primary requirement for a new recruit is the willingness to obey without question.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “obey” in context.
Verb
01. compel someone to obey
“The new regulations were designed to compel companies to obey environmental standards.”
verb + noun + infinitive
02. obey the speed limit
“Drivers must obey the speed limit to ensure the safety of pedestrians.”
verb + noun
03. refuse to obey a command
“The dog was stubborn and would occasionally refuse to obey a command from its owner.”
verb + infinitive
Noun
04. refusal to obey
“His flat refusal to obey the court order resulted in a heavy fine.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
05. blindly obey orders
“Soldiers are often trained to blindly obey orders without questioning their superiors.”
adv + verb + noun
06. fail to obey instructions
“If you fail to obey instructions during the exam, you may be disqualified.”
verb + infinitive
07. strictly obey the law
“As a citizen, it is your responsibility to strictly obey the law at all times.”
adv + verb + noun
08. willingly obey the rules
“Most students willingly obey the rules because they understand the need for safety.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“Exomoons have to obey the laws of physics, so they have to be in a certain place at a certain time around the planet.” “When it comes to cyclists and scooters, many were angry that they don’t seem to obey the road rules.” Etymology
From Middle English obeyen, from Anglo-Norman obeir, obeier et al., Old French obeir, from Latin oboediō (also obēdiō (“to listen to, harken, usually in extended sense, obey, be subject to, serve”)), from ob- (“before, near”) + audiō (“to hear”). Compare audient. In Latin, ob + audire would have been expected to become Classical Latin *obūdiō (compare in + claudō becoming inclūdō), but it has been theorized that the usual law court associations of the word for obeying encouraged a false archaism from ū to oe, to oboediō (compare Old Latin oinos → Classical Latin ūnus).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
01. tremble and obey
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/obey
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0