1. (

• duty ,
• responsibility ,
• obligation

) the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force; "we must instill a sense of duty in our children"; "every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty"- John D.Rockefeller Jr ;

2. (

• obligation

) the state of being obligated to do or pay something; "he is under an obligation to finish the job" ;

3. (

• obligation ,
• indebtedness

) a personal relation in which one is indebted for a service or favor ;

4. (

• debt_instrument ,
• obligation ,
• certificate_of_indebtedness

) a written promise to repay a debt ;

5. (

• obligation

) a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply ;