"Much Obliged" is an acknowledgement that the recipient of the kindness or courtesy is now obligated to return the favor, or pass it along to a 3rd person when they are in a position to do so. It's a kind of cowboy karma. It's a hokey version of the more informal (between good friends) "thanks, I owe you one!"

Is much obliged mean?

Much obliged in answer to someone means "thank you". Often, to be much obliged is followed or preceded by a clause starting with if. I'd be much obliged if you could fax these reports over to Mr.

Is much obliged a word?

Overall, much obliged is an idiom used to express gratitude. It literally means that one is now indebted or obliged to another. It is seen as a formal phrase, though its usage si common in British or Southern American English.