verb

disobey

dihs-uh-BAY

Disobey (verb) means to refuse or fail to follow an order or rule. Example: “The soldier was court-martialed for disobeying a direct order.”

verb

To refuse or fail to follow an order or rule.

"The soldier was court-martialed for disobeying a direct order."

How to use disobey

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo knowingly break a rule or ignore an instruction.

Common pairings

disobey orders disobey the law

disobeyed past tense, disobeys singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The soldier was court-martialed for _____ a direct order.

From Old French desobeir, from dis- + obey.

Origin: Old French

balk decline disregard ignore refuse unmind

obey accede assent acquiesce comply conform submit yield

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key hey bey dey ley grey they joey whey obey prey abbey

What does “disobey” mean?

The word “disobey” means to refuse or fail to follow an order or rule. In plain terms, to knowingly break a rule or ignore an instruction.

How do you pronounce “disobey”?

“Disobey” is pronounced dihs-uh-BAY (/ˌdɪs.əˈbeɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “disobey” in a sentence?

Here is “disobey” used in a sentence: “The soldier was court-martialed for disobeying a direct order.”

What is another word for “disobey”?

Words with a similar meaning to “disobey” include balk, decline, disregard, ignore, refuse and unmind.

What is the opposite of “disobey”?

The opposite of “disobey” — its antonyms — are obey, accede, assent, acquiesce and comply.

What part of speech is “disobey”?

“Disobey” is a verb.

Where does the word “disobey” come from?

The word “disobey” comes from Old French. From Old French desobeir, from dis- + obey.

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