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obliging
[ uh-blahy-jing ]
adjective
- willing or eager to do favors, offer one's services, etc.; accommodating:
The clerk was most obliging.
obliging
/ əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ /
adjective
- ready to do favours; agreeable; kindly
Derived Forms
- oˈbligingness, noun
- oˈbligingly, adverb
Other Words From
- o·bliging·ly adverb
- o·bliging·ness noun
- uno·bliging adjective
Example Sentences
For once, the hype and high expectations were justified, with even the weather obliging with biblical conditions and black clouds overhead that set a mood of foreboding.
The centrepiece of the King’s Speech was expected to be announcements on “turbocharging” housebuilding in England and obliging local councils to meet housing targets.
Brazil’s justice minister said the death was unacceptable, and his ministry issued a regulation obliging organizers of big events during heat waves to guarantee water for attendees.
At the beginning of the film, she is obedient and obliging and corseted; by the end, she is in a much smaller skirt and taking no guff.
The ministry said Wednesday that the federation, along with Barcelona and two second-division clubs, failed to meet regulations obliging workplaces with at least 50 employees to have “equality plans” in place.
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More About Obliging
What does obliging mean?
Obliging is used to describe someone who is willing or eager to politely do things for others, such as performing favors or services for them, as in a most obliging host.
It can also describe such a person’s actions, as in We appreciate your obliging service. A close synonym is accommodating.
The word comes from the verb oblige, which commonly means to politely do something for someone, as in He’s the kind of person who’s happy to oblige no matter what the request is.
Oblige also commonly means to require, compel, or constrain, but obliging is not typically used as an adjective in this sense.
Example: You’ve been so obliging—we can’t thank you enough for all your hospitality.
Where does obliging come from?
The first records of the word obliging as an adjective come from the 1630s. It ultimately comes from the Latin verb obligāre, meaning “to bind.”
When the verb oblige means “to accommodate,” it often implies that doing so requires some amount of effort by or trouble for the person making such accommodations. Describing someone as obliging often means that they go out of their way to help or serve, and that they do it all the time.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to obliging?
- oblige (verb)
What are some synonyms for obliging?
What are some words that share a root or word element with obliging?
What are some words that often get used in discussing obliging?
How is obliging used in real life?
Obliging can sound quite formal, especially compared to synonyms like accommodating or hospitable.
Just like to say how wonderful NHS Highland IT Support Team are. Always so obliging and patient! Much appreciated. Thank you!
— sarah jane mcleod💙 (@Mcleod2Sarah) November 1, 2016
Had a fantastic day in Sydney today. Very grateful to our extremely obliging host. What a tiring day.
— Peggy Chow (@taurusox) March 17, 2012
https://twitter.com/jacquelineUWS/status/1339715140007149569
Try using oblige!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of obliging?
A. helpful
B. hospitable
C. disagreeable
D. accommodating
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