obligate

IPA/ˈɒb.lɪ.ɡeɪt/
KK[ˈɑbləɡˌet]IPA/ˈɑːb.lɪ.ɡeɪt/

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

常見搭配
  • obligate someone to pay
  • obligate every member to vote
  • obligate yourself to repay
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。

常見搭配
  • obligate funds
  • obligate part of a budget
  • obligate land as security
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

同根字