obligate

[ verb ob-li-geyt; adjective ob-li-git, -geyt ]
See synonyms for: obligateobligated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing.
  1. to bind or oblige morally or legally: to obligate oneself to purchase a building.

  2. to pledge, commit, or bind (funds, property, etc.) to meet an obligation.

adjective
  1. morally or legally bound; obliged; constrained.

  1. Biology. restricted to a particular condition of life, as certain organisms that can survive only in the absence of oxygen (opposed to facultative): obligate anaerobe.

Origin of obligate

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English obligat, from Latin obligātus (past participle of obligāre “to bind”), equivalent to ob- + ligātus; see ob-, ligate

Other words from obligate

  • ob·li·ga·ble [ob-li-guh-buhl], /ˈɒb lɪ gə bəl/, adjective
  • ob·li·ga·tor, noun
  • pre·ob·li·gate, verb (used with object), pre·ob·li·gat·ed, pre·ob·li·gat·ing.
  • re·ob·li·gate, verb (used with object), re·ob·li·gat·ed, re·ob·li·gat·ing.

Words that may be confused with obligate

Words Nearby obligate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use obligate in a sentence

  • Even then, the settlement does not obligate the Wilpon/Katz crowd until year four to make payment of half of what is still owed.

    Inside the Mets’ Madoff Payout | Allan Dodds Frank | March 20, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • The same reasons that obligate a person to accept circumcision also obligate a person to accept the whole Law.

  • Similarly, he who would be under obligation to none must obligate himself to all in every respect.

    Epistle Sermons, Vol. II | Martin Luther
  • The best way, then, to be under obligation to none is, through love to obligate one's self in every respect to all men.

    Epistle Sermons, Vol. II | Martin Luther
  • "Me and Si Klegg'll march 'em over there, and obligate ourselves not to lose a rooster of 'em," said Shorty.

  • The mere fact that I happened to save your life does not obligate me to marry you, Miss Wharton.

    The Trail Horde | Charles Alden Seltzer

British Dictionary definitions for obligate

obligate

/ (ˈɒblɪˌɡeɪt) /


verb
  1. to compel, constrain, or oblige morally or legally

  2. (in the US) to bind (property, funds, etc) as security

adjective
  1. compelled, bound, or restricted

  2. biology able to exist under only one set of environmental conditions: an obligate parasite cannot live independently of its host Compare facultative (def. 4)

Origin of obligate

1
C16: from Latin obligāre to oblige

Derived forms of obligate

  • obligable, adjective
  • obligative, adjective
  • obligator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for obligate

obligate

[ ŏblĭ-gĭt, -gāt′ ]


  1. Capable of existing only in a particular environment or by assuming a particular role. An obligate aerobe, such as certain bacteria, can live only in the presence of oxygen. An obligate parasite cannot survive independently of its host. Compare facultative.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.