did not obey

USAGE SUMMARY

"did not obey" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone chose not to do something that they were told to do. For example: "The child did not obey his parents and stayed out late."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And yet he did not obey the commands of pedigree.

The New Yorker

Actually, a number of Cunningham's most powerful works did not obey the rule of chance.

The New Yorker

History is full of examples of men who did not obey in their young lives.

The New Yorker

Police said two officers opened fire when Childress did not obey their commands.

The Guardian

"You could lose your head if you did not obey the rules".

The New York Times - Arts

And Dr. Gates certainly did not obey the code, he said.

The New York Times

Finally, key generals did not obey the hardliners' orders, forcing them to retreat in disgrace.

The Guardian - Opinion

Equivalent conductivity data did not obey Markov equation; deviations have been interpreted in terms of the Tobolsky parameter.

Electrochimica Acta

Officer Kerrick's lawyers said the shooting was justified because Mr. Ferrell did not obey commands to stop.

The New York Times

The detective identified himself as a police officer and ordered the young men to stop, but they did not obey.

The New York Times

If politicians did not obey, they quickly sold large piles of bonds, pushing interest rates higher and dampening economic growth.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone "did not obey" a direct order, ensure the context clearly indicates who issued the order and what the expected action was.

Common error

While "did not obey" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "failed to comply" or "disregarded instructions" in professional or academic writing to maintain a higher level of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not obey" functions as a verb phrase expressing the action of failing to comply with a command, rule, or law. Ludwig shows numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe a lack of adherence to instructions or regulations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

22%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did not obey" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a failure to comply with a command or rule. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in professional or academic writing. Ludwig's examples show that the phrase frequently appears in news reports and factual accounts, highlighting its neutral register and informative purpose. While "did not obey" is generally acceptable, being mindful of the context and considering alternatives like "failed to comply" can enhance the clarity and impact of your writing. "Didn't obey" should be avoided in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not comply

Emphasizes a failure to adhere to rules or regulations.

did not follow

Suggests a lack of adherence to instructions or a prescribed path.

did not heed

Highlights a failure to pay attention to advice or a warning.

disregarded

Implies a conscious decision to ignore or dismiss something.

defied

Indicates open resistance or a challenge to authority.

ignored

Focuses on a lack of acknowledgement or attention to something.

rebelled against

Suggests active opposition to a system or authority.

violated

Emphasizes a breach of a law, agreement, or principle.

failed to observe

Highlights a lack of adherence to customs, rules, or practices.

opted out of

Indicates a voluntary choice not to participate or comply.

FAQs

How can I use "did not obey" in a sentence?

You can use "did not obey" to describe a situation where someone refused to follow a command or rule. For example, "The suspect "did not obey" the officer's instructions to stop."

What is a more formal alternative to "did not obey"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "failed to comply", "disregarded", or "did not conform to".

What's the difference between "did not obey" and "did not follow"?

"Did not obey" typically refers to a direct command or rule, while "did not follow" can refer to instructions, a path, or a process. The former implies a more direct act of defiance.

Is "didn't obey" acceptable in formal writing?

While understandable, "didn't obey" is a contraction and is generally considered less formal than ""did not obey"". Avoid contractions in academic or professional writing.