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definitions

obvious

[ ob-vee-uhs ]
/ ˈɒb vi əs /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR obvious ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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RELATED WORDS

certainly, plainly, undoubtedly, clearly, definitely, surely, apparently, evidently, visibly, seemingly, noticeably, distinctly, openly, unquestionably, incontestably, undeniably

Nearby words

  1. obversion,
  2. obvert,
  3. obviable,
  4. obviate,
  5. obviation,
  6. obviously,
  7. obvolute,
  8. obwalden,
  9. oc,
  10. 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)
ANTONYMS FOR obvious
1. hidden.
SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR obvious ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Can be confusedoblivious 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 obviously

British Dictionary definitions for obviously

obviously

/ (ˈɒbvɪəslɪ) /

adverb

in a way that is easy to see or understand; evidently
without subtlety
(sentence modifier) it is obvious that; clearlyobviously not everyone wants a bank account

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 Formsobviousness, 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
Word Origin and History for obviously

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper