obligation
Pronunciation: /ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
noun
Definition of obligation
An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound
Synonyms for obligation
- duty
- responsibility
- commitment
obligation in a Sentence
- Citizens have an obligation to obey the law and pay their taxes.
Why obligation Matters for GRE & SAT
"obligation" is a noun that means "An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound" closely related to words like "duty", "responsibility", "commitment". As a word starting with O, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.
On the GRE, understanding "obligation" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "obligation" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.
Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (noun). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "obligation" into long-term memory.
How to Remember obligation
One effective way to remember "obligation" (noun) is to group it with similar words you already know: "duty" and "responsibility" and "commitment". When you encounter "obligation" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "An act or course of action to which a person is morally or l...".
Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "obligation" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.
More Vocabulary Words Starting with O
- obdurate — stubborn; unyielding
- obeisance — reverence for an individual
- obfuscate — obscure or confuse
- objective — Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts
- objective — A thing aimed at or sought; not influenced by personal feelings
- objective — Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; impartial
- oblige — To require someone to do something by law or moral pressure
- oblivious — not aware of or not noticing something
- oblivious — Not aware of or concerned about what is happening around one
- obscure — Not discovered or known about; uncertain