obligationnoun
uk/ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/us/ˌɑː.bləˈɡeɪ.ʃən/B2 [ C or U ] the fact that you are obliged to do something:
[ + to infinitive ] If you have not signed a contract, you are under no obligation to (= it is not necessary to) pay them any money.
You have a legal obligation to (= the law says you must) ensure your child receives an education.
[ C ] something that you must do:
I don't have time to do his work for him - I have too many obligations as it is.
More examples
- Beach operators do not have a legal obligation to provide against injury or drowning.
- One has an obligation to one's friends.
- It's her moral obligation to tell the police what she knows.
- Are you under a contractual obligation to any other company?
- You have a legal obligation to inform the police about the crash.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Duty, obligation and responsibility
- accountable
- answer for sb/sth
- answer for sth
- answer to sb
- answerable
- brother
- commitment
- fail
- have sth on your hands idiom
- I am not my brother's keeper idiom
- in the hot seat idiom
- incharge
- it's your own lookout idiom
- portfolio
- responsible
- risk
- saddle sb with sth
- social contract
- stick
- stick sb with sth
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