# obliged

/əˈbɫaɪdʒd/ (US) · /əblˈaɪdʒd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/obliged
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. forced by rules

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to be forced to do something because of a law, a rule, or a duty.

For teachers: to be constrained by physical, legal, or moral necessity. Often used in the passive voice followed by a 'to' infinitive.

- The company was obliged to pay for the damage caused by the leak.
- Under the terms of the revised contract, the landlord was legally obliged to provide alternative accommodation during the structural repairs.

Usage: Commonly used in the passive form: 'be obliged to do something'.

### 2. grateful

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

feeling thankful because someone has done something kind for you.

For teachers: indebted or grateful to someone for a service or favour. Frequently used in polite social formulas.

- I would be much obliged if you could send me the report today.
- The professor noted that he was deeply obliged to his research assistants for their meticulous data collection over the summer.

Usage: Often appears in the phrase 'much obliged' as a formal way to say thank you.

Teaching tip: In 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.

## Examples

- I felt obliged to help him after he was so kind to me.
- Employers are legally obliged to provide a safe working environment for all their staff members.
- While not strictly required by the contract, the architect felt morally obliged to oversee the final installation to ensure the design's integrity was maintained.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.