# oblige

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈblaɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #25,505

## Definitions
1. To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.
2. To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).
3. To be indebted to someone.

## Etymology
From Middle English obligen, from Old French obligier, obliger, from Latin obligō, obligāre, from ob- + ligō. Doublet of obligate, taken straight from Latin.

## Easily confused with
- **olive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oblige-vs-olive)
- **ollie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oblige-vs-ollie)
- **online** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oblige-vs-online)
- **obliged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oblige-vs-obliged)
- **oblique** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oblige-vs-oblique)
- **obligate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/obligate-vs-oblige)

## Common misspellings (8)
`bolige`, `obblige`, `obilge`, `oblgie`, `oblieg`, `obligge`, `obllige`, `olbige`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/oblige