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disobey
/ˌdɪs.əˈbeɪ/
fail to follow orders
The child disobeyed his parents by staying up past bedtime.
The child did not follow his parents' rule about bedtime.
formal
to refuse to follow rules, orders, or instructions
Soldiers who disobey orders may face disciplinary action.
Soldiers who do not follow orders may be punished.
The dog disobeyed its owner and ran into the street.
The dog did not listen to its owner and went into the street.
Often used in contexts involving authority figures like parents, teachers, or bosses.
Collocations
disobey ordersnot follow instructions given by someone in authorityopenly disobeypublicly refuse to follow rules or orders
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Missing Object
Always use 'disobey' with an object. Incorrect: 'He disobeyed.' Correct: 'He disobeyed his teacher.'
Gold Rule
Conjugation
Present: disobeys, Past: disobeyed, Present Participle: disobeying
Word Origin
From Middle English *disobeien*, from Old French *desobeir*, from Latin *dis-* (a prefix meaning 'apart, away') + *oboedire* ('to obey'). The Latin *oboedire* comes from *ob-* ('to, toward') + *audire* ('to hear'). The word entered English in the late 14th century.
Usage Notes
Disobey is a transitive verb and requires an object (e.g., 'disobey a rule,' 'disobey authority'). It is stronger than 'ignore' as it implies active defiance rather than passive disregard.
Word Breakdown
dis-
a prefix indicating negation or reversal
prefixobey
to follow instructions or rules
rootEnglish Dictionary