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noun

OBE

oh-bee-EE
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OBE (noun) means 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. Example: “She was appointed OBE for services to nursing.”

noun
1
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.
"She was appointed OBE for services to nursing."
"The programme was presented by Sir David Attenborough's colleague, Jane Hall OBE."
2
Out-of-body experience: the sensation of perceiving oneself from outside one's own body.
"Patients sometimes report an OBE during cardiac arrest."
abbreviation
1
jargon Overcome by events: military and management shorthand for a plan or request that circumstances have already made irrelevant.
"The request was OBE by the time it reached the desk."
2
education Outcomes-based education, a schooling model that defines what pupils must be able to do and works backwards to design teaching.
"South Africa's OBE curriculum was phased out after sustained criticism."

How to use OBE

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA British honour that lets you put three letters after your name.

When to use it

Always capitalised. Placed after the full name with no comma in modern British style: Jane Hall OBE.

Memory tip

One is appointed an OBE rather than given one, and the letters follow the name rather than preceding it.

Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
MBE CBE KBE NDE
Common pairings
awarded an OBE appointed OBE OBE for services to
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She was appointed _____ for services to nursing.

Etymology

An initialism, chiefly of Officer of the Order of the British Empire, an order founded in 1917.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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out-of-body experience astral projection

Rhymes for OBE

lobe robe Kobe jobe tobe adobe globe probe Niobe strobe microbe disrobe
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of OBE?
"OBE" (noun) means 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.