obeyobey /əˈbeɪ, oʊ-/ ●●● W3 verb [intransitive, transitive] 
to do what someone in a position of authority tells you to do, or to do what a law or rule says you must do OPP disobey: The children are expected to obey their parents. “Sit!” he said, and the dog obeyed him immediately.obey a law/rule Many people refused to obey the new law.obey an order/command A soldier must obey orders. [Origin: 1200–1300 Old French obeir, from Latin oboedire, from audire to hear]THESAURUSdo what somebody says informal – to do what someone has advised or ordered you to do: If you do what I say, you’ll be perfectly safe.do what you are told/do as you are told – to do what your parent or teacher says you must do. Used especially about children: The teacher told the boys to sit quietly, and they did as they were told.follow somebody’s orders/instructions/advice – to do what someone says you should do, or advises you to do: You must follow your doctor’s orders.respect formal – to obey the law or customs of a place, especially because you believe it is important to obey them: He is an honest, responsible person who respects the law.comply/conform formal – to do what a law, rule, or agreement says. You usually use comply about people or groups and conform about ideas or things: Companies must comply with employment laws. The new adoption law must conform to international standards.observe formal – to do what you are supposed to do according to a law, agreement, or custom: Both sides are observing the ceasefire.abide by something formal – to accept and obey a rule, law, or agreement, even though you may not agree with it: Those are the rules – we don’t make them but we have to abide by them.
to do what someone in a position of authority tells you to do, or to do what a law or rule says you must do OPP disobey: The children are expected to obey their parents. “Sit!” he said, and the dog obeyed him immediately.obey a law/rule Many people refused to obey the new law.obey an order/command A soldier must obey orders. [Origin: 1200–1300 Old French obeir, from Latin oboedire, from audire to hear]THESAURUSdo what somebody says informal – to do what someone has advised or ordered you to do: If you do what I say, you’ll be perfectly safe.do what you are told/do as you are told – to do what your parent or teacher says you must do. Used especially about children: The teacher told the boys to sit quietly, and they did as they were told.follow somebody’s orders/instructions/advice – to do what someone says you should do, or advises you to do: You must follow your doctor’s orders.respect formal – to obey the law or customs of a place, especially because you believe it is important to obey them: He is an honest, responsible person who respects the law.comply/conform formal – to do what a law, rule, or agreement says. You usually use comply about people or groups and conform about ideas or things: Companies must comply with employment laws. The new adoption law must conform to international standards.observe formal – to do what you are supposed to do according to a law, agreement, or custom: Both sides are observing the ceasefire.abide by something formal – to accept and obey a rule, law, or agreement, even though you may not agree with it: Those are the rules – we don’t make them but we have to abide by them.