obey

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Pronunciation

• (GA) IPA: /oʊˈbeɪ/, /əˈbeɪ/
• (RP) IPA: /əʊˈbeɪ/, /əˈbeɪ/

Verb

obey (obeys, present participle obeying; past and past participle obeyed)

1. (transitive) To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of.
2. (intransitive) To do as one is told.
3. (obsolete, intransitive) To be obedient, compliant (to a given law, restriction etc.).
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.iv:

     They were all taught by Triton, to obay / To the long raynes, at her commaundement [...].

Synonyms

• hearken

Antonyms

• disobey
• defy
• rebel
• resist
• violate (especially rules)

Related terms

• obedience
• obedient
• obeisance

Translations

• French: obéir, obtempérer
• German: gehorchen
• Italian: obbedire, ubbidire
• Portuguese: obedecer
• Russian: подчиня́ться
• Spanish: obedecer

Translations

• German: befolgen
• Russian: слу́шаться
• Spanish: obedecer

Translations

• Italian: obbedire, assolvere, conformarsi

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