obstacle course
Americannoun
-
a military training area having obstacles, as hurdles, ditches, and walls, that must be surmounted or crossed in succession.
-
Informal. an event, situation, course of action, or the like that presents many challenges or difficulties.
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.
Show jumping pits a horse and rider against an obstacle course, where they clear fences against the clock.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026
But for the 35 residents of Kapisillit, getting to that care is an obstacle course.
From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026
Challenge him to produce a good time in an obstacle course, no problem.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026
It’s a daily obstacle course to get through the world with kindness, compassion, understanding and equanimity.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 23, 2025
The cafeteria line was to become an obstacle course of tripping legs.
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
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.
