obliged
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to be forced to do something because of a law, a rule, or a duty.
v.to be constrained by physical, legal, or moral necessity. Often used in the passive voice followed by a 'to' infinitive.
Simple“The company was obliged to pay for the damage caused by the leak.”
In context“Under the terms of the revised contract, the landlord was legally obliged to provide alternative accommodation during the structural repairs.”
UsageCommonly used in the passive form: 'be obliged to do something'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.feeling thankful because someone has done something kind for you.
adj.indebted or grateful to someone for a service or favour. Frequently used in polite social formulas.
Simple“I would be much obliged if you could send me the report today.”
In context“The professor noted that he was deeply obliged to his research assistants for their meticulous data collection over the summer.”
UsageOften appears in the phrase 'much obliged' as a formal way to say thank you.
Teacher's tipIn modern spoken English, 'much obliged' can sound slightly old-fashioned or very formal; 'I'd appreciate it' is a more common alternative in neutral settings.
Antonyms
See oblige. Compare obligated.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.