verb
obey
oh-BAY
verb
1
To do what someone in authority tells you to do.
"Soldiers are trained to obey orders instantly."
"She refused to obey the curfew and stayed out past midnight."
2
To follow a rule, law, or instinct.
"Drivers must obey the traffic signals at all times."
How to Use Obey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do as you're told, or follow a rule or law.
Easily confused with
obay
Common pairings
obey orders
obey the law
obey a command
Word Forms
obeyed past tense, obeys singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “obey”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Soldiers are trained to _____ orders instantly.
Etymology
From Old French obeir, from Latin oboedire — literally "to listen toward," from ob- + audire ("to hear"). Related to audient.