obstruct
Americanverb (used with object)
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obstructs,
present (3rd person singular)
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obstructed,
past participle, past
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obstructing
present participle
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to block or close up with an obstacle; make difficult to pass.
Debris obstructed the road.
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to interrupt, hinder, or oppose the passage, progress, course, etc., of.
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to block from sight; to be in the way of (a view, passage, etc.).
verb
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to block (a road, passageway, etc) with an obstacle
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to make (progress or activity) difficult
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to impede or block a clear view of
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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obstructernoun
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obstructivenessnoun
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obstructornoun
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preobstructverb (used with object)
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obstructiveadjective
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unobstructedadjective
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obstructedlyadverb
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obstructinglyadverb
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obstructivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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obstructsimple
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obstructssimple
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have obstructedperfect
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has obstructedperfect
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am obstructingprogressive
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are obstructingprogressive
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is obstructingprogressive
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have been obstructingperfect progressive
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has been obstructingperfect progressive
Past
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obstructedsimple
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had obstructedperfect
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was obstructingprogressive
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were obstructingprogressive
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had been obstructingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of obstruct
First recorded in 1605–15, obstruct is from the Latin word obstructus (past participle of obstruere “to build or pile up in the way, bar”); see ob-, construct
Explanation
When you obstruct something, you block it. If you’re gobbling down your pizza, a chunk of crust you didn’t chew so well might obstruct your airway and you'll choke. Obstruct also means to get in the way so that you hide something from view. That fast food tower being built next to your beach house will obstruct your lovely ocean vistas. And that scene gives you a vivid illustration of the Latin roots the word comes from: ob- "against," and struere, "build." You can also obstruct something or someone by putting up a roadblock, literal or figurative: when you park yourself by the exit door, you obstruct everybody's way out.
Vocabulary lists containing obstruct
The Declaration of Independence
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List 1
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If constructed, it will be topped with gilded bald eagles and an angelic Lady Liberty; its speckless white-marble columns will be wide enough to obstruct sight lines to the Lincoln Memorial.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
"The defendant not only sought to obstruct the lawful execution of warrants by prosecutors and others," he said in his verdict.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
It is also an offence to disturb, damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of an otter or obstruct their access, whether or not an otter is present.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026
Because Samsung’s software can control which pixels to disable—and when—it can selectively obstruct parts of the screen, then turn off the shield when you don’t need it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026
If the servers lined up just so—which my two occasionally did—they would obstruct my view so I couldn’t see their hands.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
“Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties, including U.S. citizens, will of course face consequences which include arrest.”
From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2026
Coincidentally, the closure of stomata also obstructs the preferred entry points for nutrient-sucking pests like spider mites.
From Science Daily ● May 3, 2024
The tree partially obstructs the front door, but they keep it there so it is sheltered from the wind.
From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2024
Not speaking English is a figurative wall that obstructs millions of immigrants in California from taking full advantage of the opportunities in their new home.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2023
These local monopolies are reinforced by the Japanese government, which obstructs the import of foreign processed food by imposing a 10-day quarantine, among other restrictions.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
It has been used against people whom the government alleged opposed or obstructed the immigration crackdown.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general said the agency has systematically obstructed its work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026
In recent years, development projects in Egypt's second city have razed historic parks and -- most egregiously to locals -- privatised and obstructed much of its Mediterranean coastline.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
The indictment charges that Lemon then obstructed church members from leaving by posting himself at the door and asking them questions.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2026
Cases of lentils, chickpeas, rice, beans, and dried foods obstructed the entrance.
From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat
A Los Angeles man was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison Monday for obstructing law enforcement during protests in downtown Los Angeles amid the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
MILWAUKEE—A former Wisconsin state judge was spared prison on Wednesday after being convicted of obstructing federal agents seeking to arrest an immigrant who appeared in her courtroom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
On Tuesday, the Federal Network Agency regulator sided with Italo in a case it brought against Deutsche Bahn for obstructing competition.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Ken Leech, the former chief investment officer of bond-fund company Western Asset Management, just pleaded guilty in a criminal court in New York to a charge of obstructing justice for giving false and misleading testimony.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026
On October 20,1917, Alice Paul was escorted from a courtroom to the District Jail to begin serving a seven-month sentence for obstructing traffic.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
