obey
gb/oʊbˈeɪ/ us/oʊbˈeɪ/
A2
English
~ 2700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Follow instructions or rules
To do what someone tells you or what a rule says.
Usage pattern:
to obey [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'obey' with 'listen'. 'Listen' means to hear attentively, while 'obey' means to follow instructions.
Synonyms
follow (More general; can mean to go after physically or to act according to something, not always in the sense of authority.)
|
comply (More formal; often used with rules and regulations.)
Antonyms
disobey (Direct opposite; means to refuse or fail to follow a command or rule.)
Collocations
obey the law
|obey orders
|obey instructions
|refuse to obey
|obey a command
Themes
authority
|law
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Soldiers are trained to obey orders without question.
- You must obey the traffic laws at all times.
- Children are expected to obey their parents.
- The dog quickly learned to obey simple commands.
Learner examples
- I obey my teacher in class.
- We must obey the rules.
- The dog will obey you.
- He does not obey his parents.
Grammar
Dictionary form
obey
IPA
GB/oʊbˈeɪ/
US/oʊbˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
obey (1 syllable)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: obey
- 3rd Person Singular: obeys
- Present Participle: obeying
- Past: obeyed
Word family
Forms
obeys
verb
obeying
verb
obeyed
verb
Related words
obediently
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
obey instructions
1/oʊbˈeɪ ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənz/
fixed phrase
Follow given directions
To do what the directions or steps tell you to do.
Examples
- Please obey the instructions on the medicine label.
- He failed to obey the instructions and broke the machine.
obey orders
1/oʊbˈeɪ ˈɔɹdɚz/
fixed phrase
Follow given commands
To do what you are told by someone in authority.
Examples
- The soldiers must obey orders from their commander.
- She refused to obey orders that she thought were wrong.
obey the law
1/oʊbˈeɪ ðə lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
Follow legal rules
To do what the laws say you must do.
Examples
- All citizens are required to obey the law.
- He was fined because he did not obey the law.