oblige

in a sentence

grouped by contextual meaning

I didn't want to help, but I felt obliged because of our family connections.

They looked at me expectantly and I felt obliged to comment.

We are obliged, at least once in our lives, to visit the holy city of Mecca.  (source) Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist, 1988

How could he explain to Hammond about the reality of DNA dropouts, the patches, the gaps in the sequence that Wu had been obliged to fill in, making the best guesses he could, but still, making guesses.  (source) Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park, 1993

We live as we have for centuries by a code called Pashtunwali, which obliges us to give hospitality to all guests and in which the most important value is nang, or honor.  (source) Malala Yousafzai, I Am Malala, 2013

…already, in her mind's eye, she could see his sister, Mme. de Cambremer, alighting from her carriage at the door of our hotel just as we were on the point of going out fishing, and obliging us to remain indoors all afternoon to entertain her.  (source) Marcel Proust, Swann's Way, 1913

Also he obligeth himselfe, to assist him that hath the Soveraignty, in the Punishing of another; but of himselfe not.†  (source) Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651

I only puzzle them, and oblige them to make civil speeches.  (source) Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

I couldn't just pull out the black Mary picture and show it to August without the truth wrecking everything, and she would decide—might decide, would decide, I couldn't say—that she was obliged to call T. Ray to come get me.  (source) Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees, 2002

Six obliges her request for the eleventh hug and winks at me over Karen's shoulder.†  (source) Colleen Hoover, Hopeless, 2013

Swann having replied that he had not seen this portrait, Mme. Cottard was afraid that she might have hurt his feelings by obliging him to confess the omission.  (source) Marcel Proust, Swann's Way, 1913

This is it which is called the Old Covenant, or Testament; and containeth a Contract between God and Abraham; by which Abraham obligeth himself, and his posterity, in a peculiar manner to be subject to Gods positive Law; for to the Law Morall he was obliged before, as by an Oath of Allegiance.†  (source) Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651

But were there roses enough to oblige her to go twice?  (source) Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

I'll be happy to oblige.

He obliged her by listening attentively.

Peeta's happy to oblige and since he's a lot quieter in water than on land, it's a doubly good idea.  (source) Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, 2008

I don't think that shark Krataiis will oblige you.  (source) Madeline Miller, Circe, 2018

The next obliging roll of thunder saw it wedged once more into place.  (source) Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting, 1975

With Salamander Army waiting abjectly for destruction, Leopard obligingly destroyed them.  (source) Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game, 1977

My pipe was ready and would have been lit, if I had not been lost in thinking about how to banish oppression from this land and restore to all its people their stolen rights and manhood without disobliging anybody.†  (source) Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, 1889

When a drunken hothead tried to pick a fight, Phil stared back indifferently, but Louie obliged.  (source) Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken, 2010

For some singular reason, an impression seemed to reign among the servants generally that Missis would not be particularly disobliged by delay; and it was wonderful what a number of counter accidents occurred constantly, to retard the course of things.†  (source) Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852

That night at Sukhinichi a porter who had preserved his prewar obligingness took the doctor over the unlit tracks to the back of some unscheduled train that had just arrived, and put him in a second-class carriage.†  (source) Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago, 1958

But Miss Frances married, in the common phrase, to disoblige her family, and by fixing on a lieutenant of marines, without education, fortune, or connexions, did it very thoroughly.†  (source) Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

They drive around looking. Looking and hoping that someone will provoke them. Sooner or later, someone always obliges. Then the dogs feast and the day's boredom is broken at last and everyone says 'Allah-u-akbar!'  (source) Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner, 2003

But to have received benefits from one, whom we acknowledge our superiour, enclines to love; because the obligation is no new depession: and cheerfull acceptation, (which men call Gratitude,) is such an honour done to the obliger, as is taken generally for retribution.†  (source) Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651

I'd be obliged if you could help me lift this.

I shouldn't have accepted her help, but 'tis a tricky job, and when she came along I was greatly obliged to her.  (source) Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, 1958

But he would be much obliged, he repeated, if I could "give it a go with four".  (source) Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day, 1989

Shouting above the train noise, I told him much obliged for saving T.R.  (source) Olive Ann Burns, Cold Sassy Tree, 1984

The old judge said with a slight start: "I am obliged to you, Mr. Marston."  (source) Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None, 1939

We are already deeply obliged to you.  (source) J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, 1937

I'm much obliged but I couldn't take on any more work.  (source) F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, 1925

"Well now, I'm much obliged," said Matthew,  (source) Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne Of Green Gables, 1908

I'm obliged to you.  (source) William Faulkner, As I Lay Dying, 1930

As our client wishes the delivery made as soon as possible, we shall be obliged by your having teams ready at King's Cross at the time named and forthwith conveying the goods to destination.  (source) Bram Stoker, Dracula, 1897

I should be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket.  (source) Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band, 1891

I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty times. Bless you!  (source) Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843

"Oh yes, thank you," said Maggie, "I'm very much obliged to you."  (source) George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, 1860