obligateob·li·gate /ˈɒbləgeɪtˈɑːb-/ verb [transitiveT] especially American EnglishAmE1to make it necessary for someone to do somethingA new law will obligate all companies engaging in banking business to get approval from the finance ministry.
2FINANCEif an authority obligates an amount of money for something, it officially says it will spend that amount on itThe Pentagon has obligated $987.9 million to overhaul and improve the aircraft.