oblige him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'oblige him' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used when someone is requesting or ordering someone to do something. Example sentence: "I asked my friend to help me with my assignment, and he reluctantly agreed to oblige me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

– that oblige him to retire.

The Guardian

Kasparov refuses to oblige him.

The New York Times - Arts

"I didn't oblige him," Kawashima says.

The New Yorker

Is it wrong that we're happy to oblige him?

The New Yorker

The summit will oblige him to begin to clarify where he stands on India and Kashmir.

The Economist

After that, the LDP's rules would oblige him to step down as the party's leader.

The Economist

Many people in the tech industry seem happy to oblige him.

The New York Times

The French news media has seemed only happy to oblige him: "Yoo-hoo!

The New York Times

The furore only grew, however, and eventually was enough to oblige him to resign his post.

Independent

The Nuggets, fearful of losing Anthony to free agency next summer, seem likely to oblige him.

The New York Times

That's what Udall wants, and he's pressing Biden to oblige him.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "oblige him" when you want to convey a sense of duty, politeness, or willingness to fulfill a request. It's more formal than simply 'help him' or 'ask him'.

Common error

Avoid using "oblige him" in situations that imply coercion or lack of genuine willingness. It's best suited for scenarios where there's a sense of courtesy or obligation, not force.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "oblige him" typically functions as a transitive verb phrase, where "oblige" is the verb and "him" is the direct object. Ludwig examples show it is used when a person or entity is willing to fulfill a request or action for another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "oblige him" is a grammatically correct and commonly used transitive verb phrase that expresses willingness or duty in fulfilling a request or expectation. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently found in news and media sources, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical soundness of the phrase. When writing, remember to use "oblige him" in situations where there is a sense of courtesy or obligation, not force. Related phrases include "compel him", "require him", and "force him", offering alternative ways to convey the idea of compelling or accommodating someone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compel him

Focuses on forcing or driving him to act.

require him

Emphasizes a necessity or condition that he must fulfill.

force him

Implies using power or authority to make him do something.

make him

A more direct and simpler way of saying to cause him to do something.

ask him

A polite way of requesting something from him.

accommodate him

Focuses on providing him with what he needs or wants.

do him a favor

Implies doing something kind or helpful for him.

meet his request

Specifically addresses fulfilling a request he has made.

grant him his wish

Implies fulfilling a desire or wish that he has.

be of service to him

A formal way of offering help or assistance to him.

FAQs

How can I use "oblige him" in a sentence?

You can use "oblige him" when someone is requesting or ordering someone to do something. For example: "I asked my manager to sign the document, and he agreed to oblige him."

What can I say instead of "oblige him"?

You can use alternatives like "compel him", "require him", or "force him" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "oblige him" or "obligate him"?

Both "oblige him" and "obligate him" are grammatically correct, but "oblige him" often implies a sense of willingness or courtesy, while "obligate him" focuses more on a legal or moral duty.

What's the difference between "oblige him" and "help him"?

"Oblige him" suggests fulfilling a specific request or expectation, often with a sense of duty or politeness. "Help him", on the other hand, is a more general term for providing assistance.