Quotes--> Extra Examples--> She believes that all people have a moral obligation to defend human rights. He argues that people in a community have certain obligations to each other. She failed to fulfill her obligations as a parent.
Recent Examples on the Web The report, Rosen said, found that VAS complied with its contractual obligations, but lacked internal controls because of staffing shortages. — Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024 As part of that settlement, Apple went beyond its obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to allow for monitoring of its compliance over a 10-year period. — Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 14 Aug. 2024 Now, though, searching can feel like an unrelenting obligation. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2024 That is exactly what Israel is doing, with U.S. support, along with fulfilling its legitimate obligation to rescue the hostages and protect its populace, among them seven million Jews and two million Arab Israelis. — Eli M. Rosenbaum, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for obligation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obligation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Middle English obligacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French obligacion, borrowed from Latin obligātiōn-, obligātiō, from obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, place under a legal or moral constraint" + -tiōn- -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at oblige
First Known Use14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1