obey
/əʊˈbeɪ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: obeys · obeying · obeyed
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of.
Verb
Examples
obey the rules
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To do as one is told.
Verb
Examples
Soldiers are trained to obey.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “obey” mean?
To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of.
Is “obey” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.