obligate

1 of 2

verb

ob·​li·​gate ˈä-blə-ˌgāt How to pronounce obligate (audio)
obligated; obligating

transitive verb

1
: to bind legally or morally : constrain
You are obligated to repay the loan.
2
: to commit (something, such as funds) to meet an obligation
funds obligated for new projects

obligate

2 of 2

adjective

ob·​li·​gate ˈä-bli-gət How to pronounce obligate (audio) -blə-ˌgāt How to pronounce obligate (audio)
1
: restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life
an obligate parasite
2
: biologically essential for survival
obligate mutualism
obligately adverb

Examples of obligate in a Sentence

Verb The contract obligates the firm to complete the work in six weeks. the problem is of your own making, so don't think that you can obligate me to help
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
To begin with, the record shows Martin believed the Fed was obligated to support the Treasury’s efforts to sell debt. Norbert Michel, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Banks and financial institutions are obligated to provide returns for their investors and profits for their shareholders. Klaus Schwab, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Benthic sharks, which can rest on the ocean floor, tend to have shorter, rounded pectoral fins, while pelagic sharks, which are obligate ram ventilators that must continuously swim to breathe, have longer, more streamlined fins. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 To clearly distinguish it from NATO, the AASC should not be called a treaty organization and should not obligate members to come to one another’s defense in case of attack. Lise Morjé Howard, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for obligate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obligate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Latin obligātus, past participle of obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, place under a legal or moral constraint" — more at oblige

Adjective

borrowed from German obligat "necessary, unavoidable," borrowed from Latin obligātus "under an obligation," from past participle of obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, place under a legal or moral constraint" — more at oblige

Note: In biological sense apparently adapted from use of German obligat by the mycologist Heinrich Anton de Bary (1831-88) in Vergleichende Morphologie und Biologie der Pilze, Mycetozoen und Bacterien (Leipzig, 1884), p. 382 ff.

First Known Use

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obligate was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near obligate

Cite this Entry

“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obligate. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

obligate

verb
ob·​li·​gate
ˈäb-lə-ˌgāt
obligated; obligating
: to make (someone) do something by law or because it is right

Medical Definition

obligate

adjective
ob·​li·​gate ˈäb-li-gət How to pronounce obligate (audio) -lə-ˌgāt How to pronounce obligate (audio)
1
: restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life or way of functioning
the infant is an obligate nose breatherThe Journal of the American Medical Association
an obligate parasite
2
: biologically essential for survival
obligate parasitism
obligately adverb

Legal Definition

obligate

transitive verb
ob·​li·​gate ˈä-blə-ˌgāt How to pronounce obligate (audio)
obligated; obligating
1
: to bind legally or morally
was obligated to pay child support
2
: to commit (as funds or property) to meet or provide security for an obligation
obligatory adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on obligate

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