1. submit to the authority of (someone) or comply with (a law): "I always obey my father"Similardo what someone saystake/accept orders fromcarry out/follow the orders ofbe dutiful toheedsubmit todefer tobe ruled bybow togive way/in toyield tosurrender totruckle tocomply withadhere toobserveabide byact in accordance withconform torespectacquiesce inconsent toagree tofollowacceptkeep tostick toplay it by the booktoe the lineOppositedisobeydefycontravene
▪ carry out (a command or instruction): "the officer was convicted for refusing to obey orders"Similarcarry outperformact onexecutedischargeput into effectimplementfulfilmeet
▪ behave in accordance with (a general principle, natural law, etc.):"the universe was complex but it obeyed certain rules"
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French obeir, from Latin oboedire, from ob- ‘in the direction of’ + audire ‘hear’.
