disobey

verb

dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā How to pronounce disobey (audio)
-ō-
disobeyed; disobeying; disobeys

transitive verb

: to fail to obey
disobeyer noun

Examples of disobey in a Sentence

If you disobey, you will be severely punished. The soldier disobeyed the general's orders. He was afraid to disobey his father. The driver had disobeyed the law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After a federal judge ordered the government to respond to the accusation that CBP disobeyed a court order by deporting Alawieh, lawyers from the Justice Department denied the accusation the morning of March 17, court records show. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025 Her attorneys argue the government disobeyed the order. Cate Martel, The Hill, 17 Mar. 2025 In a Sunday filing reviewed by Newsweek, the judge said there are grounds for believing that CBP ignored and disobeyed his first order. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025 An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt: A 24-year-old man from Bolingbrook was arrested on charges of improper lane usage, disobeying a stop sign and driving under the influence of alcohol at 1:27 a.m. March 5 at West Jefferson Avenue and South Webster Street. Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disobey

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desobeir, from des- dis- + obeir to obey

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of disobey was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disobey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disobey. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

disobey

verb
dis·​obey ˌdis-ə-ˈbā How to pronounce disobey (audio)
: to refuse, neglect, or fail to obey

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