Obey

Pronunciation: /oʊˈbeɪ/

Definitions of obey

verb to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of someone in authority

Example Sentences

A1 Children should obey their parents.

A2 Drivers must obey traffic laws.

B1 Employees are expected to obey company policies.

B2 Citizens must obey the laws of the country they reside in.

C1 It is essential for soldiers to obey orders from their superiors.

C2 In a democratic society, all individuals are expected to obey the rule of law.

Examples of obey in a Sentence

formal It is important to obey the rules and regulations set forth by the company.

informal Just obey what your boss says and you'll be fine.

slang Dude, just obey the traffic laws and you won't get a ticket.

figurative Sometimes it's better to obey your instincts and follow your gut feeling.

Grammatical Forms of obey

• past tense: obeyed
• plural: obey
• comparative: more obedient
• superlative: most obedient
• present tense: obeys
• future tense: will obey
• perfect tense: have obeyed
• continuous tense: is obeying
• singular: obeys
• positive degree: obedient
• infinitive: to obey
• gerund: obeying
• participle: obeyed

Origin and Evolution of obey

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'obey' originated from the Old French word 'obeir' which came from the Latin word 'obedire' meaning 'to listen, pay attention to'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'obey' has evolved to encompass the act of following rules, commands, or instructions willingly and without hesitation.