Definition of “obey” - English Dictionary

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“obey” in English

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obeyverb

uk ​ /əʊˈbeɪ/ /əˈbeɪ/ us ​ /oʊˈbeɪ/

B2 [ I or T ] to act according to what you have been asked or ordered to do by someone in authority, or to behave according to a rule, law, or instruction:

The soldiers refused to obey (orders).
to obey the rules of international law
See also
obedient

› [ T ] to behave according to a scientific principle:

Falling objects obey the law of gravity.

› [ T ] If your body or part of your body does not obey you, it does not work in the way it should:

She was so tired her legs just wouldn't obey her any longer.

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(Definition of “obey” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“obey” in American English

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obeyverb [ I/T ]

us ​ /oʊˈbeɪ/

› to do what you are told or expected to do according to someone in authority or a rule or law:

[ I ] The toddler refused to obey.
[ T ] Residents are expected to obey the house rules.

(Definition of “obey” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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