HOW TO PRONOUNCE
obsequious
/əbˈsikwiəs/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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Stress “see,” then keep the “kw” sound.
Use four syllables and a light opening. The qu represents k followed by w; let it lead into an unstressed ee and then uh before the final s.
4 syllables · Stress on syllable 2
TRY SAYING
“The character speaks in an obsequious manner.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does obsequious mean?
adjective
- Excessively eager and attentive to please or to obey instructions; fawning, subservient, servile.
More meanings (2)
adjective
- (archaic) Obedient; compliant with someone else's orders or wishes.
- (obsolete) Of or pertaining to obsequies, funereal.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/əbˈsikwiəs/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
They were obsequious and servile and did not presume to talk to their masters as if they were their equals.
One proud scholar marching down the street and scarcely noticing the obsequious bows of his inferiors, would meet another equally proud scholar.
More book examples (3)
The gentleman with the nosegay in his bosom had now perceived our two friends, and was approaching the young girl with obsequious rapidity.
I attended to all the ghastly formalities, and the urbane undertaker proved that his staff were afflicted--or blessed--with something of his own obsequious suavity.
It was not to be expected that the obsequious parasites who always surround a monarch, could presume to look more virile than their master.