adjective
obliged
uh-BLYJD
adjective
1
Required to do something.
"By law, employers are obliged to provide safety equipment."
2
Grateful for a favour someone has done.
"I'd be much obliged if you could send that file today."
How to Use Obliged
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither required to do something, or thankful for a favour.
When to use it
"Much obliged" is a slightly old-fashioned, polite way of saying thank you.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
more obliged comparative, most obliged superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “obliged”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
By law, employers are _____ to provide safety equipment.