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Cooperate vs Obey - What's the difference?

cooperate | obey |

In intransitive terms the difference between cooperate and obey

is that cooperate is to engage in economic cooperation while obey is to do as one is told.

cooperate

English

Alternative forms

* co-operate (UK), (uncommon)

Verb

(cooperat)
  • To work or act together, especially for a common purpose or benefit.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=In polling by the Pew Research Center in November 2008, fully half the respondents thought the two parties would cooperate more in the coming year, versus only 36 percent who thought the climate would grow more adversarial. }}
  • To allow for mutual unobstructed action
  • To function in harmony, side by side
  • To engage in economic cooperation.
  • Usage notes

    The usual pronunciation of 'oo' is /u?/ or /?/. The dieresis in the spelling emphasizes that the second o begins a separate syllable. However, the dieresis is becoming increasingly rare in US English typography, so the spelling cooperate predominates. See also .

    Synonyms

    * to coact * make common cause

    References

    * * * ----

    obey

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To do as ordered by (a person, institution etc), to act according to the bidding of.
  • To do as one is told.
  • (obsolete) To be obedient, compliant (to a given law, restriction etc.).
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , III.iv:
  • They were all taught by Triton, to obay / To the long raynes, at her commaundement [...].

    Antonyms

    * disobey * defy * rebel * resist * violate (especially rules )