Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

obvious

[ob-vee-uh s]
See more synonyms for obvious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. easily seen, recognized, or understood; open to view or knowledge; evident: an obvious advantage.
  2. lacking in subtlety.
  3. Obsolete. being or standing in the way.
Show More

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)
Related formsob·vi·ous·ly, adverbob·vi·ous·ness, nounnon·ob·vi·ous, adjectivenon·ob·vi·ous·ly, adverbnon·ob·vi·ous·ness, nouno·ver·ob·vi·ous, adjectivepre·ob·vi·ous, adjectivepre·ob·vi·ous·ly, adverbpre·ob·vi·ous·ness, nounun·ob·vi·ous, adjectiveun·ob·vi·ous·ly, adverbun·ob·vi·ous·ness, noun
Can be confusedoblivious obvious

Synonyms

See more synonyms for obvious on Thesaurus.com
1. plain, manifest, clear, palpable, unmistakable.

Synonym study

1. See apparent.

Antonyms

1. hidden.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for non-obvious

Contemporary Examples

British Dictionary definitions for non-obvious

obvious

adjective
  1. easy to see or understand; evident
  2. exhibiting motives, feelings, intentions, etc, clearly or without subtlety
  3. naive or unsubtlethe play was rather obvious
  4. obsolete being or standing in the way
Show More
Derived Formsobviousness, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for non-obvious

obvious

adj.

1580s, "frequently met with," from Latin obvius "that is in the way, presenting itself readily, open, exposed, commonplace," from obviam (adv.) "in the way," from ob "against" (see ob-) + viam, accusative of via "way" (see via). Meaning "plain to see, evident" is first recorded 1630s. Related: Obviously; obviousness.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper