How Do You Spell OBEY?

Pronunciation: [ə͡ʊbˈe͡ɪ] (IPA)

The word "obey" is spelled with the letter "o" followed by the letters "b", "e", and "y". In IPA phonemic transcription, it is represented as /oʊˈbeɪ/. The first sound, /oʊ/, is a diphthong that represents the sounds of both the vowels "o" and "u". The second sound, /b/, is a voiced bilabial plosive consonant. The third sound, /eɪ/, represents a long "a" sound followed by a stressed "y" sound. Altogether, this spelling and phonetic representation create the word "obey" which means to comply with or follow orders.

OBEY Meaning and Definition

  1. Obey is a verb that refers to the act of following or conforming to a command, rule, law, or order. It implies compliance or submission to someone or something in authority, or to a set of established principles or guidelines. When a person obeys, they carry out or adhere to instructions or directions without resistance or objection.

    Obeying often involves a willingness to listen and understand the expectations or requests put forth by an authority figure or higher power. It can encompass various areas of life, such as obeying the laws of the land, conforming to social norms, or following the rules set by an organization or institution. Complete obedience requires not only compliance with explicit commands but also respect for and adherence to the underlying principles or values upon which those commands are based.

    Obeying is considered a virtue in many societies, as it fosters order, cooperation, and social cohesion. It can reflect a person's ability to follow given instructions or carry out tasks responsibly and dutifully. However, blind obedience, where critical thinking is overridden and personal judgment is not exercised, can also have negative implications, potentially leading to harmful actions or contributing to the perpetuation of unjust systems.

    In summary, obeying entails the act of yielding to authority, conforming to established rules or instructions, and acknowledging and respecting the underlying principles or values that drive those commands.

  2. To comply with the commands, orders, or instructions of a superior, as a parent, a master, or a teacher; to yield submission to.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for OBEY *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for OBEY

Etymology of OBEY

The word obey has its origins in the Latin word obedire, which means to obey or to hear. It is further derived from the Latin phrase ob audire, which translates to to listen to.

Idioms with the word OBEY

  • He that cannot obey cannot command. The idiom "He that cannot obey cannot command" means that a person who is unable or unwilling to follow orders or instructions is not capable of or deserving of being in a leadership or authoritative position. It suggests that those who are not respectful of authority or lack the ability to carry out tasks as instructed are not fit to be in a position of power or authority over others.

Similar spelling words for OBEY

Conjugate verb Obey

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have obeyed
you would have obeyed
he/she/it would have obeyed
we would have obeyed
they would have obeyed
I would have obey
you would have obey
he/she/it would have obey
we would have obey
they would have obey

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been obeying
you would have been obeying
he/she/it would have been obeying
we would have been obeying
they would have been obeying

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would obey
you would obey
he/she/it would obey
we would obey
they would obey

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be obeying
you would be obeying
he/she/it would be obeying
we would be obeying
they would be obeying

FUTURE

I will obey
you will obey
he/she/it will obey
we will obey
they will obey

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be obeying
you will be obeying
he/she/it will be obeying
we will be obeying
they will be obeying

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have obeyed
you will have obeyed
he/she/it will have obeyed
we will have obeyed
they will have obeyed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been obeying
you will have been obeying
he/she/it will have been obeying
we will have been obeying
they will have been obeying

IMPERATIVE

you obey
we let´s obey

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to obey

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was obeying
you were obeying
he/she/it was obeying
we were obeying
they were obeying

PAST PARTICIPLE

obeyed

PAST PERFECT

I had obeyed
you had obeyed
he/she/it had obeyed
we had obeyed
they had obeyed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been obeying
you had been obeying
he/she/it had been obeying
we had been obeying
they had been obeying

PRESENT

I obey
you obey
he/she/it obeys
we obey
they obey

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am obeying
you are obeying
he/she/it is obeying
we are obeying
they are obeying

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

obeying

PRESENT PERFECT

I have obeyed
you have obeyed
he/she/it has obeyed
we have obeyed
they have obeyed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been obeying
you have been obeying
he/she/it has been obeying
we have been obeying
they have been obeying

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it obey

SIMPLE PAST

I obeyed
you obeyed
he/she/it obeyed
we obeyed
they obeyed

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