Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - oblige

(obliges, obliging, obliged) 1. If you are obliged to do something, a situation, rule, or law makes it necessary for you to do that thing. The storm got worse and worse. Finally, I was obliged to abandon the car and continue on foot... This decree obliges unions to delay strikes. = compel VERB: be V-ed to-inf, V n to-inf 2. To oblige someone means to be helpful to them by doing what they have asked you to do. If you ever need help with the babysitting, I’d be glad to oblige... We called up three economists to ask how to eliminate the deficit and they obliged with very straightforward answers... Mr Oakley always has been ready to oblige journalists with information. VERB: V, V with n, V n with n, also V n 3. People sometimes use obliged in expressions such as ‘much obliged’ or ‘I am obliged to you’ when they want to indicate that they are very grateful for something. (FORMAL or OLD-FASHIONED) Much obliged for your assistance... Thank you very much indeed, Doctor, I am extremely obliged to you. CONVENTION c darkgreen]formulae 4. If you tell someone that you would be obliged or should be obliged if they would do something, you are telling them in a polite but firm way that you want them to do it. (FORMAL) I would be obliged if you could read it to us. CONVENTION c darkgreen]politeness