What does obligation mean?
Word: Obligation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Obligation means something you must do because of a rule, a promise or what is expected of you.
Synonyms: responsibility, commitment
Antonyms: choice
How do you spell obligation?
Syllables: ob - li - ga - tion
Tricky part: The middle is li-ga, not le-ga or li-gi: the weak vowels are easy to swap.
Watch out for: obligasion, obligetion, oblegation
Memory tip: Hear the long a of station just after the g: that vowel is an a, never an e (obligetion).
Obligation in a sentence
Example 1: Voting is a right, but many people see it as an obligation too.
Example 2: You are under no obligation to buy anything at the exhibition.
Example 3: He felt an obligation to help the neighbour who had helped him.
Fun Fact
Obrigado, the Portuguese word for thank you, means 'obliged' and comes from the same Latin root as obligation.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word obligation as it is used in the sentence:
Parents have an obligation to make sure their children go to school.
a) wish
b) hobby
c) prize
d) duty
Show answer
d) duty. An obligation is something you must do, which is a duty; a hobby, a wish and a prize are things you choose or enjoy.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
Returning a borrowed book on time is a small but important niagltiobo.
a) obligatory
b) abolition
c) obligation
d) litigation
Show answer
c) obligation. Obligatory ends in a y, abolition has no g and litigation has no b; the jumbled letters spell obligation.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. obligation 2. promise 3. contract 4. agreemant
a) a decision that two or more people share
b) something you must do because of a rule or promise
c) a written deal between two sides
d) a statement that you will certainly do something
Show answer
a) a decision that two or more people share. Agreement ends in ment, not mant; obligation, promise and contract are spelt right.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Keeping a promise made to a close friend is an obligation that most people in our family take very seriosly.
a) obligation
b) promise
c) friend
d) seriosly
Show answer
d) seriosly. Serious keeps its u when ly is added: seriously.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If you are under no obligation to buy, you ____.
a) have to buy at least one item
b) can leave without buying anything
c) must pay before you leave the shop
d) are not allowed inside
Show answer
b) can leave without buying anything
2. An obligation is something like ____.
a) eating your favourite sweet
b) paying back money you owe
c) choosing a film to watch
d) taking a nap on Sunday
Show answer
b) paying back money you owe
