What word means to follow or obey?
Answer
Comply
Explanation
The word that means to follow or obey, on the USCIS reading vocabulary list, is Comply. To comply is to act in accordance with a rule, request, or command, and the verb captures one of the central responsibilities of citizenship: obeying the laws of the United States and of the state and locality where the citizen lives.
The duty to comply with U.S. law is built into the Oath of Allegiance taken at naturalization, which commits the new citizen to support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. The rule-of-law principle holds that everyone (including government officials, the President, and judges) must obey the law and that no one is above it.
Specific civic duties that involve compliance include paying federal, state, and local taxes; obeying federal, state, and local laws; serving on a jury when called under federal or state law; registering with the Selective Service System (for males aged 18 to 25); responding truthfully to the decennial census under Title 13 of the U.S. Code; and complying with court orders, including subpoenas, custody orders, and judgments.
Failure to comply with legal obligations can have serious consequences: tax evasion is a federal crime under Title 26; contempt of court can result in fines or jail; failure to register with the Selective Service can bar a man from federal benefits and naturalization; and a record of significant noncompliance with the law can reflect on the good moral character requirement for naturalization under section 316 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
On the reading test Comply may appear in a sentence about citizens' duties, the law, or government rules.
Why this matters for your test
Comply names the duty of citizens to obey the law, and recognizing it in print prepares the applicant for sentences about civic responsibilities, taxation, jury service, and the rule of law.
The word also has direct relevance to the naturalization process itself, where compliance with U.S. laws is part of the good moral character requirement.
Source: USCIS Reading Vocabulary (2025)
