obvious

American  

[ob-vee-uhs] / ˈɒb vi əs /

adjective

1. easily seen, recognized, or understood; open to view or knowledge; evident.

   an obvious advantage.

   Synonyms:

   unmistakable , palpable , clear , manifest , plain

   Antonyms:

   hidden

2. lacking in subtlety.

3. Obsolete.  being or standing in the way.

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obvious British  

/ ˈɒbvɪəs /

adjective

1. easy to see or understand; evident

2. exhibiting motives, feelings, intentions, etc, clearly or without subtlety

3. naive or unsubtle

   the play was rather obvious

4. obsolete  being or standing in the way

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Related Words

See apparent.

Other Word Forms

• nonobvious adjective
• nonobviously adverb
• nonobviousness noun
• obviously adverb
• obviousness noun
• overobvious adjective
• preobvious adjective
• preobviously adverb
• preobviousness noun
• unobvious adjective
• unobviously adverb
• unobviousness noun

Etymology

Origin of obvious

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin obvius “in the way, lying in the path,” equivalent to ob- ob- ( def. ) + vi(a) way ¹ ( def. ) + -us, adjective suffix ( -ous ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Simply put, whether due to misjudging the country’s mood or the increasingly obvious effects of poor health and aging, the president has been off his game.

From Salon

“A lot remains uncertain around the investment case, the most obvious being what acquisitions may be attempted, at what price, and with what funding,” the analyst writes.

From The Wall Street Journal

So obvious, that every single other team did so.

From BBC

The truth about Larry Summers has been obvious for many years.

From Salon

There are obvious stylistic similarities between the two teams - both play a patient possession style featuring high pressing.

From BBC

Related Words

• accessible
• clear
• conspicuous
• discernible
• distinct
• evident
• glaring
• indisputable
• noticeable
• overt
• palpable
• pronounced
• recognizable
• self-evident
• straightforward
• undeniable
• unmistakable
• visible