OBE
2 synonyms for OBE, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Officer of the Order of the British Empire, an honour awarded by the British monarch for a significant contribution in a national or regional field; also the letters placed after the recipient's name.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
out-of-body experience
astral projection
How to use OBE
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
awarded an OBE
appointed OBE
OBE for services to
Always capitalised. Placed after the full name with no comma in modern British style: Jane Hall OBE.
Etymology
An initialism, chiefly of Officer of the Order of the British Empire, an order founded in 1917.
Full origin of OBE →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an OBE, an MBE and a CBE?
They are three ranks of the same order, in ascending order of seniority: MBE (Member), OBE (Officer) and CBE (Commander). Above them come the knight and dame grades, KBE and DBE, which carry the title Sir or Dame. None of the three lower ranks gives a title.
Does an OBE make you a Sir?
No. Only the two highest ranks of the order, KBE and DBE, confer Sir or Dame. An OBE simply lets you put the letters after your name and attend an investiture.
What does OBE mean in a text or an email?
In British contexts it usually still means the honour. In military, government and consulting email it often means "overcome by events" — the point has been made moot by what has happened since.
