Meaning & use
obstacle
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Meanings
nouncountable
A physical thing in the way that stops or slows movement.
Grammar: Countable: a fallen tree was an obstacle.
Patterns
- an obstacle in the road
The runners jumped over each obstacle on the track.
A fallen tree was an obstacle on the road.
Keep the hallway free of obstacles.
nouncountable
A problem or difficulty that makes it hard to achieve something.
Grammar: Often followed by to or in the way of: an obstacle to success.
Patterns
- an obstacle to something
- overcome an obstacle
Lack of money was the main obstacle to their plan.
She overcame many obstacles to become a doctor.
Language is not an obstacle between us.
Word forms
| plural | obstacles |
|---|
Common combinations
- overcome an obstacle
- He overcame every obstacle.
- major obstacle
- Cost is a major obstacle.
- obstacle to
- Poor roads are an obstacle to trade.
- face an obstacle
- The company faces several obstacles.
- obstacle course
- The children ran an obstacle course.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hurdle
- A hurdle is a specific difficulty that must be cleared, usually figurative.
- barrier
- A barrier blocks or separates, and is often social or legal.
- obstruction
- Obstruction is something blocking passage, more formal.
- setback
- A setback is a delay in progress that has already happened.
Opposites
Word family
- obstruct verb
- to block or hinder
- obstruction noun
- something that blocks
- obstructive adjective
- tending to block progress
Commonly confused: obstacle or obstacle vs obstruction?
obstacle vs obstacle vs obstruction
An obstacle is anything in the way; an obstruction is usually something actively blocking, as in a legal offense.
Practice
Which phrase is correct?
Choose one answer.
Obstacle is followed by to for the goal being blocked. The other prepositions are not used.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “obstacle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.