definitions

obvious

[ ob-vee-uhs ]
/ ˈɒb vi əs /
||

adjective

easily seen, recognized, or understood; open to view or knowledge; evident: an obvious advantage.
lacking in subtlety.
Obsolete. being or standing in the way.

RELATED CONTENT

Can You Untangle These Regional Mix-Ups?Watch what you say while you're traveling around the US - not all words mean the same things in the same places.
READ MORE
What Are The Hardest Languages To Learn?Learning a new language always takes time and effort, but are some languages easier to learn than others? There are two answers, one of which is fairly obvious; the other has to do with music and different sides of your brain. The biggest question is: what language (or languages) do you currently speak? That is the most influential variable in how difficult it is to learn …
READ MORE

Nearby words

obv, obverse, obversion, obvert, obviate, obvious, obviously, obvolute, obwalden, oc, oc-

Origin of obvious

1580–90; < Latin obvius in the way, lying in the path, equivalent to ob- ob- + vi(a) way1 + -us adj. suffix (see -ous)

SYNONYMS FOR obvious

1 plain, manifest, clear, palpable, unmistakable.

ANTONYMS FOR obvious

1 hidden.

Related forms

Can be confused

oblivious obvious

Synonym study

1. See apparent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for non-obvious

British Dictionary definitions for non-obvious

obvious

/ (ˈɒbvɪəs) /

adjective

easy to see or understand; evident
exhibiting motives, feelings, intentions, etc, clearly or without subtlety
naive or unsubtlethe play was rather obvious
obsolete being or standing in the way

Derived Forms

obviousness, noun

Word Origin for obvious

C16: from Latin obvius, from obviam in the way, from ob- against + via way
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012