Obey vs. Submit: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Obey means to follow the instructions or commands of someone, while submit refers to yielding or surrendering oneself to the authority or will of another.
Key Differences
Obeying involves adhering to commands or rules, often implying compliance with specific instructions. Submitting, however, involves yielding or giving in, often suggesting a relinquishment of control or resistance.
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Dec 05, 2023
Obey is frequently used in contexts where there is a clear directive or command, such as in a military or parental setting. Submit tends to be used in contexts involving authority or bureaucracy, like submitting to a process, authority, or judgment.
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To obey often suggests a choice to follow orders or rules, while to submit can imply a lack of choice, often connoting resignation or acquiescence.
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Obedience is often viewed in terms of discipline and order, while submission can carry connotations of submissiveness or even subservience.
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In obeying, one may still retain some sense of agency in choosing to comply. In submitting, there is often a stronger sense of giving up one's agency or power to another.
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Comparison Chart
Nature of Action
Adhering to commands or rules.
Yielding or surrendering to authority.
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Typical Context
Military, parental, or institutional settings.
Legal, bureaucratic, or authoritative contexts.
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Implications of Choice
Suggests a choice to comply.
Often implies a lack of choice, resignation.
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Degree of Agency
Retains some agency in compliance.
Stronger sense of relinquishing agency.
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Obey and Submit Definitions
Obey
To follow the directions or commands of someone.
The soldiers were trained to obey their superiors without question.
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Submit
To yield or surrender to the authority of another.
She had to submit to the court's decision.
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Obey
To comply with or adhere to rules or standards.
Children are taught to obey the rules of the school.
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Submit
To give in or agree to something reluctantly.
After much debate, he finally submitted to their demands.
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Obey
To act in accordance with a command or request.
He decided to obey his doctor's advice and rest.
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Submit
To subject to a process or treatment.
The samples were submitted for testing.
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Obey
To be governed or affected by a particular law or rule.
All residents must obey the local zoning laws.
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Submit
To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another.
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Obey
To respond readily to or be controlled by some influence.
The dog was trained to obey hand signals.
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Submit
To subject to a condition or process
Submit a tissue sample to testing.
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Submit
To present (something) to the consideration or judgment of another
We submitted our ideas to our supervisor.
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Submit
To offer as a proposition or contention
I submit that the terms are entirely unreasonable.
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Obey
(transitive) To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of.
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Submit
To allow oneself to be subjected to something
Submit to an interview.
Submit to drug testing.
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Submit
(intransitive) To yield or give way to another.
They will not submit to the destruction of their rights.
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Obey
To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord.
Was she the God, that her thou didst obey?
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Submit
(ambitransitive) To enter or put forward for approval, consideration, marking etc.
I submit these plans for your approval.
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Obey
To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by.
My will obeyed his will.
Afric and India shall his power obey.
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Obey
To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.
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Obey
To give obedience.
Will he obey when one commands?
His servants ye are, to whom ye obey.
He commanded the trumpets to sound: to which the two brave knights obeying, they performed their courses.
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Submit
To put or place under.
The bristled throatOf the submitted sacrifice with ruthless steel he cut.
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Submit
To yield, resign, or surrender to power, will, or authority; - often with the reflexive pronoun.
Ye ben submitted through your free assent.
The angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands.
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Submit
To leave or commit to the discretion or judgment of another or others; to refer; as, to submit a controversy to arbitrators; to submit a question to the court; - often followed by a dependent proposition as the object.
Whether the condition of the clergy be able to bear a heavy burden, is submitted to the house.
We submit that a wooden spoon of our day would not be justified in calling Galileo and Napier blockheads because they never heard of the differential calculus.
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Submit
To yield one's person to the power of another; to give up resistance; to surrender.
The revolted provinces presently submitted.
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Submit
To yield one's opinion to the opinion of authority of another; to be subject; to acquiesce.
To thy husband's willThine shall submit.
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Submit
To be submissive or resigned; to yield without murmuring.
Our religion requires from us . . . to submit to pain, disgrace, and even death.
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Submit
Refer for judgment or consideration;
She submitted a proposal to the agency
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Submit
Refer to another person for decision or judgment;
She likes to relegate difficult questions to her colleagues
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Submit
Submit or yield to another's wish or opinion;
The government bowed to the military pressure
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Submit
Make an application as for a job or funding;
We put in a grant to the NSF
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Submit
To present or propose something for consideration.
He decided to submit his novel to a publisher.
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Submit
To enter or present oneself for judgment or evaluation.
Candidates must submit their applications by Friday.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What's an example of obedience in daily life?
Following traffic rules while driving.
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What is submitting a document?
Presenting a document for review or consideration.
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Can obedience be voluntary?
Yes, one can choose to obey out of respect or agreement.
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Does obey have a positive connotation?
Often, especially in contexts like law or discipline.
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How does one submit to authority?
By acknowledging and complying with their power or rules.
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Is submission always forced?
Not always; it can be a voluntary act of deference.
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Can submission be empowering?
Yes, when it's a choice, it can be an act of strength.
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What does 'obey your thirst' imply?
To listen to and act on your desires or needs.
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What does submitting a plan entail?
Offering a plan for evaluation or approval.
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What does it mean to obey a law?
To comply with or follow the rules set by the law.
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What role does obedience play in education?
It fosters discipline and respect for rules and authority.
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What does it mean to submit to a process?
To engage in and follow through with a set procedure.
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Can obedience be harmful?
Yes, if it leads to following harmful or unethical orders.
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How do religions view obedience?
Often as a virtue, especially in following religious precepts.
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How is submission used in a workplace?
Submitting reports or proposals for approval.
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Is submission a sign of weakness?
Not necessarily; context and intent are important.
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What is a submission in martial arts?
A technique used to defeat an opponent, often by yielding.
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Can one submit an idea?
Yes, presenting an idea for consideration is submitting it.
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What is the difference between obey and follow?
Obey is more authoritative, while follow can be less formal.
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Is obedience mandatory in military service?
Yes, it's a fundamental aspect of military discipline.
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Dec 05, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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