obey (əˈbeɪ
)
Definitions
verb
- to carry out (instructions or orders); comply with (demands)
- to behave or act in accordance with (one's feelings, whims, etc)
Alternative Forms
oˈbeyer nounWord Origin
C13: from Old French obéir, from Latin oboedīre, from ob- to, towards + audīre to hearSynonyms
View thesaurus entry= submit to surrender (to)
give way to,
succumb to bow to give in to yield to be ruled by
serve,
defer to cave in to take orders from do what you are told by
=
submit,
yield,
surrender,
give in,
give way,
succumb,
cave in,
toe the line,
knuckle under,
do what is expected come to heel get into line
Translations
- British English:
obey
If you obey a rule, instruction, or person, you do what you are told to do.Most people obey the law. It was his duty to obey.əˈbeɪ VERB Most people obey the law. It was his duty to obey.
- Spanish:
obedecer
v
- French:
obéir
vi
- German:
gehorchen
v
- Chinese: 服从 v
- Arabic: يُطِيعُ v
- Portuguese: obedecer v
- Russian: слушаться v
- Croatian: slušati v
- Czech: poslechnout v poslouchat
- Danish: adlyde v
- Dutch: gehoorzamen v
- Finnish: totella v
- Greek: υπακούω v
- Italian: ubbidire v
- Japanese: 従う v
- Korean: 순종하다 v
- Norwegian: adlyde v
- Polish: być posłusznym v
- Brazilian Portuguese: obedecer v
- European Spanish:
obedecer
v
- Swedish: lyda v
- Thai: เชื่อฟัง v
- Turkish: boyun eğmek v
- Vietnamese: vâng lời v
Usage examples
It is not possible to obtain directions which are practicable to obey.
, In Love and War (1989)The refusal to obey laws the rest of us have to accept will continue.
Country Life (2004)But the 60 or so Raelians around us obey the seminar leader.
Ottawa Sun (2003)There are strict rules which a company must obey once it is listed.
Sun, News of the World (2002)They get a message to execute an action, contract and obey.
, The Natural Face Book (1991)