obvious

[ob-vee-uhs]

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.

obvious

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of obvious¹

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. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of obvious¹

C16: from Latin obvius, from obviam in the way, from ob- against + via way

Synonym Study

See apparent.

Example Sentences

While some have expressed dissatisfaction with the dollar’s role as the global reserve currency, the fact remains that there is no obvious alternative to replace it, said Standard Chartered’s Steve Englander.

Read more on MarketWatch

Mr Russell Flint said it was "obvious" that his client posed no risk to the McCanns, as she was only arrested when Miss Wandelt flew back into to the UK in February.

Read more on BBC

And without him, USC doesn’t have an obvious star to step into the void.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The Times had no obvious motive to favour Lively's version of events."

Read more on BBC

My slide into “AIsolation,” as I think of it, wasn’t obvious at first.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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