obligate

/ˈɒb.lɪ.ɡeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑːb.lɪ.ɡeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈä-blə-ˌgāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɒb.lɪ.ɡət/ (bre, ipa)

obligate — 動詞

  • obligatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • obligates3rd person singular
  • obligating-ing form
  • obligatedpast simple

1. to make someone have to do something because a rule, promise, duty, or situation

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

使有義務

因規定、承諾或情勢而必須去做

to make someone have to do something because a rule, promise, duty, or situation leaves no real choice

例句

The contract obligates the builder to finish the roof by July.

這份合約使承包商有義務在七月前把屋頂完工。

obligate + person + to + verb

School rules obligate every swimmer to wear a cap in the pool.

校規規定每位游泳的學生在泳池裡都必須戴泳帽。

law or rule + obligate + person + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • require

    the broad everyday choice; less formal and less tied to duty

  • compel

    stronger and more forceful, often suggesting pressure

  • bind

    stresses a legal or moral tie that holds someone to an agreement

反義詞
  • free

    releases someone from the duty or requirement

  • release

    formally removes an obligation that was in place

文法句型

obligate + someone + to + verb

obligate yourself + to + verb

用法筆記

Usually appears in legal, official, or moral contexts and is followed by a person or group plus a to-infinitive. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 puts someone under a duty, while sense 2 commits money or property to cover that duty.

常見錯誤

❌The permit obligates us finish by Friday.
✅The permit obligates us to finish by Friday.
💡This verb normally takes an object followed by a to-infinitive.

2. to officially set money or property aside so it will be used to pay a debt or me

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

撥用；作保

正式把資金或財產指定用來履約或擔保

to officially set money or property aside so it will be used to pay a debt or meet another promised need

例句

The city obligated two million dollars for the new bridge project.

市政府把兩百萬美元撥用於新橋工程。

obligate + amount of money + for + purpose

Before the grant arrived, the college had already obligated part of its budget.

補助款到位前，學院已先把部分預算撥用出去。

同義詞
  • allocate

    broader and less technical; does not always imply a legal commitment

  • commit

    close in meaning, especially in financial or legal writing

  • earmark

    focuses on reserving money for a stated purpose, often less formal

反義詞
  • withhold

    keeps funds or property from being committed

  • release

    frees money or property from an earlier commitment

文法句型

obligate + funds

obligate + property + as security

用法筆記

Most common in finance and government writing. The direct object is usually money, funds, property, or other assets rather than a person.

常見錯誤

❌The agency obligated to extra funds for repairs.
✅The agency obligated extra funds for repairs.
💡In this sense, the money or property committed is the direct object.

obligate — 形容詞