obstacle
Americannoun
noun
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a person or thing that opposes or hinders something
-
a fence or hedge used in showjumping
Synonym Usage
Obstacle, obstruction, hindrance, impediment refer to something that interferes with or prevents action or progress. An obstacle is something, material or nonmaterial, that stands in the way of literal or figurative progress: Lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement. An obstruction is something that more or less completely blocks a passage: A blood clot is an obstruction to the circulation. A hindrance keeps back by interfering and delaying: Interruptions are a hindrance to one's work. An impediment interferes with proper functioning: an impediment in one's speech.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of obstacle
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin obstāculum, equivalent to obstā(re) “to face, block, hinder” ( ob- ob- + stāre stand ) + -culum -cle 2
Explanation
When the road is blocked ahead of you, that blockage is an obstacle that keeps you from getting where you want to go. The Latin word that is the source of the word obstacle combines parts that mean "to stand in the way of," so an obstacle is something that stands against what you want to do. In a dramatic piece, the obstacle is the person or thing that keeps a character from achieving his or her goal. This creates the conflict in a play: since conflict is what drama is all about, the obstacle is the source of all drama.
Vocabulary lists containing obstacle
Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)
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Code Talker
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"Earth and Space"
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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.
Another obstacle comes from the expansion of the universe.
From Science Daily • Jul. 9, 2026
Instead, there remains the shadow of Messi and Argentina as the potential obstacle should they overcome the dangerous Norwegians.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026
Elle Woods, as Reese Witherspoon originated her, posed a similar psychological obstacle for me, only the challenge was getting me into the theater as opposed to keeping me there.
From Salon • Jul. 6, 2026
“Ironically, the things that have led to the success of these legacy automakers now are actually an obstacle for their improvement,” Dyer said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
One obstacle remained and that was the Soviet Union itself.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
