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# obligation

noun (an obligation, obligations)

«obligation» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An obligation is something you must do because a rule, a promise or your duty says so. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#m1)
2. An obligation is the feeling that you ought to do something, for example to help someone who helped you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#m2)
3. (formal) In official writing, an obligation is a duty set by law or by a contract. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life the word tells the reader that a person is not free to choose: they have to do something. It appears in lessons about rights and responsibilities, rules at school and citizenship. Phrases: «under an obligation», «no obligation» (you do not have to buy or agree; common in shop adverts), «feel an obligation», «a sense of obligation», «meet your obligations».

### Examples

- Parents have an obligation to keep their children safe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x1)
- You are under no obligation to buy anything. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x2)
- She felt an obligation to help her neighbour after he fixed her bike. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x3)
- Try the game free, no obligation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x4)
- Going to school is a legal obligation for children. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x5)
- He helped out of a sense of obligation, not because he wanted to. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x6)
- (formal) The tenant shall meet all obligations set out in this agreement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x7)
- Keeping a promise is an obligation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x8)
- Better poverty without a care than wealth with its many obligations. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/#x9)

### Note

Countable noun: obligations. Related verb «oblige» (be obliged to = have to) and adjective «obligatory» (= compulsory). «No obligation» in adverts means you can say no for free, but always read the small print. Do not confuse with «option» (something you may choose).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «obligation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligation/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«obligation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/obligation.html) on Mova free.