obey Definition
comply with the command, direction, or request of (a person or a law); submit to the authority of.
Using obey: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "obey" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Children must learn to obey their parents.
Example
Soldiers are expected to obey their commanding officers.
Example
The law must be obeyed by everyone.
Example
He refused to obey the instructions.
obey Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using obey
obey one's conscience
act according to one's own sense of right and wrong
Example
Even if it means losing his job, he will obey his conscience and speak out against injustice.
fulfill one's obligations and responsibilities, especially in difficult or dangerous situations
Example
As a firefighter, he always obeys the call of duty and puts his life on the line to save others.
Example
Instead of acting impulsively, he decided to obey the voice of reason and think things through.
Phrases with obey
Example
If you want to play the game, you have to obey the rules.
obey orders
comply with the commands given by someone in authority
Example
As a soldier, he was trained to obey orders without question.
Example
Everyone is expected to obey the law, regardless of their social status.
Origins of obey
from Old French 'obeir', from Latin 'obedire', from 'ob-' (in the direction of) + 'audire' (hear)
Summary: obey in Brief
'Obey' [əˈbeɪ] means to comply with the commands, directions, or requests of a person or a law, and to submit to authority. It is often used in the context of rules, orders, and laws, as in 'Children must learn to obey their parents' or 'Everyone is expected to obey the law.' The phrase 'obey one's conscience' refers to acting according to one's own sense of right and wrong, while 'obey the call of duty' means fulfilling one's obligations and responsibilities, especially in difficult or dangerous situations.
