obstruct
verb (used with object)
to block or close up with an obstacle; make difficult to pass.
was obstructing
-
past progressiveof obstruct.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Replacement gear from a European company was obstructing a safety beacon for airplanes.
From New York Times ● May 9, 2023
The next day she underwent surgery for an aneurysm that was obstructing her optic nerve, suffering a stroke that left her in critical condition, according to her husband, Junior Rivas, 52.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 5, 2023
Around 12:42 p.m., the train, with at least 243 passengers and 12 crew members onboard, struck a truck that was obstructing a public crossing near Mendon, Mo., Amtrak said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2022
Then he told the body that, when laying in his hospital bed one day, his breathing became so strained that he asked a nurse to see if something was obstructing his nasal canal.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2020
It was difficult to hear what they were saying because their voices sounded like bees, as if something was obstructing their noses.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
