ob·li·gate
ˈä-blə-ˌgāt 
obligated; obligating
1
: to bind legally or morally : constrain
You are obligated to repay the loan.
2
: to commit (something, such as funds) to meet an obligation
funds obligated for new projects
ob·li·gate
ˈä-bli-gət
-blə-ˌgāt
-blə-ˌgāt
1
: restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life
an obligate parasite
2
: biologically essential for survival
obligate mutualism
obligately
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of obligate in a Sentence
Verb
The contract obligates the firm to complete the work in six weeks.
the problem is of your own making, so don't think that you can obligate me to help
Recent Examples on the Web
Jill Terreri Ramos, New York Times, 1 June 2024
However, the 124 member nations would be obligated to take those charged into custody.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
Ken Belson, New York Times, 1 May 2024
As obligate scavengers, vultures survive almost exclusively on what is already dead.
—Meera Subramanian, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obligate 
Verb
And isn’t the landlord obligated to put the deposit in a higher-earning account considering that any earnings above 1 percent go to me?
—Jill Terreri Ramos, New York Times, 1 June 2024
However, the 124 member nations would be obligated to take those charged into custody.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
Adjective
The charters obligate teams to enter all their cars in all 36 Cup races and two exhibitions each season.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 1 May 2024
As obligate scavengers, vultures survive almost exclusively on what is already dead.
—Meera Subramanian, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obligate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obligate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near obligate
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obligate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
obligate
adjective
ob·li·gate
ˈäb-li-gət
-lə-ˌgāt
-lə-ˌgāt
1
: restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life or way of functioning
the infant is an obligate nose breather—The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Associationan obligate parasite
2
: biologically essential for survival
obligate parasitism
obligately
adverb
Legal Definition
obligate
transitive verb
ob·li·gate
ˈä-blə-ˌgāt
obligated; obligating
1
: to bind legally or morally
was obligated to pay child support
2
: to commit (as funds or property) to meet or provide security for an obligation
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