Obedient means doing what you're told by someone in authority, like a parent, teacher, or coach. An obedient student follows classroom rules even when the teacher steps out for a moment. An obedient dog sits when commanded and comes when called.

The word describes someone who listens to instructions and follows through on them. When a babysitter asks kids to brush their teeth before bed and they do it right away, they're being obedient. When a soldier follows orders from a commanding officer, that's obedience too.

An obedient athlete still plays with passion and creativity, but knows when to listen to the coach's strategy. Being obedient in a science lab means following safety rules so nobody gets hurt.

The opposite of obedient is disobedient or defiant. Obedience is usually expected when rules are fair and meant to keep people safe.