obliging

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "obliging" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe someone who is willing to do something for or help someone else; for example: "The obliging waiter went above and beyond to make sure all of the guests had a pleasant dining experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Israel could have been told it must immediately cease all attacks on civilians in Gaza on pain of: • An immediate suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement and other trading and arms related activities with EU states; • A security council resolution under chapter VII of the UN charter obliging all states to follow this lead.

The Guardian - Opinion

Against Portugal on Sunday, his players showed a similar self-belief – playing their own game and obliging their opponents to adjust their schemes rather than the other way around.

The Guardian - Sport

Today's report comes as a grassroots project driven by families of people with learning disabilities and originating on social media, develops a draft private members bill obliging councils or NHS bodies to integrate disabled people into communities.

The Guardian

Our plans include obliging banks to provide information about companies automatically to HMRC, and abolishing the rule that allows non-domiciled residents not to pay tax on foreign income".

The Guardian - Tech

The recent floods will make things worse, obliging the government to borrow some 12 billion koruna ($352m) for relief, pushing the budget further out of balance and weakening the currency still more.Czech politics, in turn, has turned rougher.

The Economist

Obliging companies to solicit bids at regular intervals, as Britain does, has shaken up the business: HSBC said in August that it will drop KPMG in favour of PwC; on December 2nd Unilever announced that it is making the opposite switch.

The Economist

Despite signing many human-rights treaties obliging it to do so, the United States has not passed domestic laws that open the way to criminal prosecutions for human-rights abuses abroad.

The Economist

It promptly fell by 10% against the dollar, obliging Mr Klaus to make even harsher cuts.After three years of growth the economy this year at least will mark time.

The Economist

And he announced a series of inexpensive (to the government, at least) yet drastic measures: nudging the tax burden from small businesses to large ones, forcing land speculators to build houses, freezing energy bills, guaranteeing a 8am-6pm school-day, integrating health, care and mental health services, obliging certain firms to provide apprenticeships and lowering the voting age from 18 to 16.

The Economist

Designation, by itself, is relatively innocuous, only obliging the administration to negotiate.

The Economist

Small and innovative firms began obliging them, and big firms increasingly felt forced to follow suit.All this took a toll on the labour market.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing individuals or entities ready to assist, prefer the term "obliging" to denote their accommodating nature.

Common error

While "obliging" is versatile, avoid overusing it in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise terms like "accommodating" or "cooperative" when describing specific professional interactions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "obliging" is as an adjective, describing someone or something that is ready to do favors or provide assistance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obliging" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective that describes someone willing to help or do favors. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is usable in various contexts, mainly in news and formal settings. While versatile, overuse in highly formal or technical writing should be avoided, opting instead for terms like "accommodating" or "cooperative" for better precision. Remember that "obliging" differs from "obligated", focusing on willingness rather than duty. Related terms include "accommodating", "helpful", and "willing to help", each offering a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accommodating

Similar in meaning; emphasizes willingness to adjust to meet someone's needs.

helpful

A general term for providing assistance.

willing to help

Expresses a readiness to assist.

amenable

Suggests a readiness to agree or comply.

cooperative

Implies working well with others.

kind

Focuses on the benevolent nature of the helpful action.

benevolent

Indicates a generous and well-meaning helpfulness.

good-natured

Highlights the cheerful and friendly disposition behind the helpfulness.

complaisant

Suggests a willingness to please others, sometimes excessively.

serviceable

Focuses on the utility and readiness to provide a service.

FAQs

How to use "obliging" in a sentence?

You can use "obliging" to describe someone who is helpful and willing to do favors for others. For example, "The "obliging staff" went out of their way to assist us."

What can I say instead of "obliging"?

You can use alternatives like "accommodating", "helpful", or "willing to help" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "obliging" or "obligated"?

"Obliging" describes someone who is willing to do favors, while "obligated" means being bound by duty or contract. They have different meanings and usages.

What's the difference between "obliging" and "cooperative"?

"Obliging" emphasizes a willingness to do favors, while "cooperative" focuses on working well with others towards a common goal. The nuance lies in the intent behind the helpfulness.