What does obey mean?
Obey means (transitive) To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of..
Obey
/əʊˈbeɪ/ · verb
Meaning
(transitive) To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of..
Definitions by Sense
- (transitive) To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of.
- (intransitive) To do as one is told.
- (obsolete, intransitive) To be obedient, compliant (to a given law, restriction etc.).
Example Sentences
obey the rules
obey your boss
Soldiers are trained to obey.
They were all taught by Triton, to obay / To the long raynes, at her commaundement [...].
Synonyms for obey
Antonyms for obey
Related Words
Word Forms
- obeys
- obeying
- obeyed
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for obey?
Common synonyms include hearken, mind, accede, assent.
What is the opposite of obey?
Possible antonyms include disobey, defy, rebel, resist.
How do you use obey in a sentence?
obey the rules
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.