obey

UK: /əˈbeɪ/ US: /oʊˈbeɪ/ ,(ō bā′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•bey /oʊˈbeɪ/   v. 

1. to do or follow the wishes or instructions of:
   [~ + object] She always obeyed her parents.
2. to be obedient:
   [no object] Teach your dog to obey.
3. to comply with;
   follow:
   [~ + object] to obey orders.
4. to respond quickly to:
   [~ + object] The car obeys my slightest touch on the steering wheel.
5. to conform to;
   be subject to:
   [usually not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object] All objects obey the law of gravity.

Related Words

obey is a verb, obedient is an adjective, obedience is a noun:
These children obey their parents. These children are obedient to their parents. These children have learned obedience.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•bey  (ō bā′), v.t. 

1. to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of:
   to obey one's parents.
2. to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction, etc.).
3. (of things) to respond conformably in action to:
   The car obeyed the slightest touch of the steering wheel.
4. to submit or conform in action to (some guiding principle, impulse, one's conscience, etc.).

v.i. 

5. to be obedient:
   to agree to obey.

• Latin oboedīre, equivalent. to ob- ob- + audīre to hear; -oe- for expected -ū- is unclear
• Old French obeir
• Middle English obeien 1250–1300

o•bey′a•ble, adj. 
o•bey′er, n. 
o•bey′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

obey / əˈbeɪ/ verb

1. to carry out (instructions or orders); comply with (demands)
2. to behave or act in accordance with (one's feelings, whims, etc)

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French obéir, from Latin oboedīre, from ob- to, towards + audīre to hear

oˈbeyer noun