English > obligation: 5 senses > noun 1, act| Meaning | The social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force. |
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| Example | every opportunity, an obligation |
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| Synonyms | duty, responsibility |
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| Narrower | burden of proof | The duty of proving a disputed charge |
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| civic duty, civic responsibility | The responsibilities of a citizen |
| filial duty | duty of a child to its parents |
| guardianship, keeping, safekeeping | The responsibility of a guardian or keeper |
| imperative | Some duty that is essential and urgent |
| incumbency | A duty that is incumbent upon you |
| job | The responsibility to do something |
| legal duty | Acts which the law requires be done or forborne |
| line of duty | All that is normally required in some area of responsibility |
| moral obligation | An obligation arising out of considerations of right and wrong |
| noblesse oblige | The obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous (often used ironically) |
| prerequisite, requirement | Something that is required in advance |
| requirement, demand | required activity |
| white man's burden | The supposed responsibility of the white race to provide care for their non-white subjects |
| Broader | social control | Control exerted (actively or passively) by group action |
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| Spanish | compromiso, deber, obligación, responsabilidad |
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| Catalan | deure, obligació, responsabilitat |
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| Verbs | oblige, obligate | force somebody to do something |
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