Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense obstructs, present participle obstructing, past tense, past participle obstructed
1. verb
If something obstructs a road or path, it blocks it, stopping people or vehicles getting past.
Tractors and container lorries have completely obstructed the road. [VERB noun]
2. verb
To obstruct someone or something means to make it difficult for them to move forward by blocking their path.
A number of local people have been arrested for trying to obstruct lorries loadedwith logs. [VERB noun]
They were fined for obstructing traffic. [VERB noun]
3. verb
To obstruct progress or a process means to prevent it from happening properly.
The authorities are obstructing a United Nations investigation. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: impede, prevent, frustrate, hold up More Synonyms of obstruct
4. verb
If someone or something obstructs your view, they are positioned between you and the thing you are trying to look at, stopping you from seeing it properly.
Claire positioned herself so as not to obstruct David's line of sight. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: obscure, screen, cut off, cover More Synonyms of obstruct
More Synonyms of obstruct
obstruct in British English
(əbˈstrʌkt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to block (a road, passageway, etc) with an obstacle
2.
to make (progress or activity) difficult
3.
to impede or block a clear view of
Derived forms
obstructor (obˈstructor)
noun
obstructive (obˈstructive)
adjective, noun
obstructively (obˈstructively)
adverb
obstructiveness (obˈstructiveness)
noun
Word origin
C17: Latin obstructus built against, past participle of obstruere, from ob- against + struere to build
obstruct in American English
(əbˈstrʌkt)
verb transitive
1.
to block or stop up (a passage) with obstacles or impediments; dam; clog
2.
to hinder (progress, an activity, etc.); impede
3.
to cut off from being seen; block (the view)
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈhinder
Derived forms
obstructer (obˈstructer)
noun or obˈstructor
Word origin
< L obstructus, pp. of obstruere, to block up, build against < ob- (see ob-) + struere, to pile up: see strew
Examples of 'obstruct' in a sentence
obstruct
Police had been called because the car was obstructing a road.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And it seems pretty plain that this investigation was obstructed for no justifiable reason.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Often they found their path obstructed by police vehicles.
The Sun (2012)
The witnesses saw the birds shot but were unable to see who killed them because trees were obstructing the view.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We also knew that elements of the old regime would resist these measures and attempt to obstruct any positive progress.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Small ones are fine, unless they obstruct the view of other spectators.
The Sun (2012)
Of these only 170 would have partial or obstructed view.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
Just before it happened we thought about putting our chairs behind them so as not to obstruct their view but decided against it.
The Sun (2015)
Police have not acknowledged making any arrest, and there is concern that the investigation is being obstructed.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
No farmers farmed, no livestock grazed and no trees cast shadows to obstruct the view from either side of the other.
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
THE massive 16,000 obstructed views in the old ground have been reduced to zero.
The Sun (2007)
It was this view that obstructed his election to membership of the elite photographic co-operative Magnum.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Funnily enough, there was no mention of him being censured in 2000 for obstructing an investigation into his donations.
The Sun (2013)
But it was beyond the president to reunite two members of her club when so much had already been said, and too many misunderstandings obstructed their path.
Turner, Janine Behind Closed Doors - advice for families with violence in the home (1988)
There's a small piece of woodland obstructing a full view of it, but the noise of the traffic is unavoidable.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
To say that big infrastructure projects are about'the political will to overcome the huge obstacles that obstruct their paths' hit the nail right on the head.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
obstruct
British English: obstruct /əbˈstrʌkt/ VERB
To obstruct someone or something means to block their path, making it difficult for them to move forward.
Lorries have completely obstructed the road.
American English: obstruct
Arabic: يَعُوقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: obstruir
Chinese: 阻塞
Croatian: zakrčiti
Czech: překážet stát v cestě
Danish: obstruere
Dutch: versperren
European Spanish: obstruir
Finnish: estää fyysisesti
French: empêcher
German: blockieren
Greek: κωλύω
Italian: ostruire
Japanese: ふさぐ じゃま
Korean: 방해하다
Norwegian: blokkere
Polish: zablokować
European Portuguese: obstruir
Romanian: a obstrucționa
Russian: препятствовать
Latin American Spanish: obstruir
Swedish: vara i vägen
Thai: ขวางทาง
Turkish: tıkamak
Ukrainian: загороджувати
Vietnamese: cản trở
Chinese translation of 'obstruct'
obstruct
(əbˈstrʌkt)
vt
(= block)[road, path]堵塞 (dǔsè)
(= hinder)[justice, progress]阻碍(礙) (zǔ'ài)
1 (verb)
Definition
to block a way with an obstacle
Lorries obstructed the road completely.
Synonyms
block
When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.
close
bar
For added safety, bar the door to the kitchen.
cut off
plug
Crews are working to plug a major oil leak.
choke
The village roads are choked with traffic.
clog
The traffic clogged the Thames bridges.
barricade
The doors had been barricaded.
shut off
stop up
bung up (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to make progress or activity difficult
Drivers who park illegally obstruct the flow of traffic.
Synonyms
hold up
stop
I think she really would have liked to stop everything right there.
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
bar
block
All attempts to complain to his superiors were blocked.
prevent
We took steps to prevent it happening.
These methods prevent pregnancy.
arrest
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
restrict
The shoulder straps restrict movement.
interrupt
Our view was interrupted only by an occasional squall of pigeons.
slow down
hamstring
He could hamstring a conservative-led coalition.
interfere with
hamper
inhibit
buildings which inhibit the supply of light and air
clog
hinder
retard
Continuing violence will retard negotiations.
impede
get in the way of
bring to a standstill
cumber
3 (verb)
Definition
to make progress or activity difficult
The authorities are obstructing the investigation.
Synonyms
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
prevent
frustrate
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
hold up
slow down
hamstring
interfere with
hamper
I was hampered by a lack of information.
hold back
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
retard
get in the way of
trammel
cumber
Opposites
help
,
support
,
further
,
aid
,
encourage
,
advance
,
favour
,
promote
,
assist
,
abet
4 (verb)
Definition
to block a clear view of
She positioned herself so as not to obstruct his view.
Synonyms
obscure
The building is almost completely obscured by a huge banner.
screen
The road is screened by a block of flats.
cut off
cover
the black patch which covered his left eye
hide
The compound was hidden by trees and shrubs.
mask
A thick grey cloud masked the sun.
shield
He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to slow or stop the development of
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
Synonyms
stop,
end,
hold,
limit,
check,
block,
slow,
delay,
halt,
stall,
stay,
interrupt,
suppress,
restrain,
hamper,
inhibit,
hinder,
obstruct,
retard,
impede
in the sense of bar
Definition
to secure with a bar
For added safety, bar the door to the kitchen.
Synonyms
lock,
block,
secure,
chain,
attach,
anchor,
bolt,
blockade,
barricade,
fortify,
fasten,
latch,
obstruct,
make firm,
make fast,
stop
in the sense of barricade
Definition
to erect a barricade across (an entrance)
The doors had been barricaded.
Synonyms
bar,
block,
defend,
secure,
lock,
bolt,
blockade,
fortify,
fasten,
latch,
obstruct
Synonyms of 'obstruct'
obstruct
Explore 'obstruct' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of check
Definition
to slow the growth or progress of
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
Synonyms
stop,
control,
limit,
arrest,
delay,
halt,
curb,
bar,
restrain,
inhibit,
rein,
thwart,
hinder,
repress,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in someone's wheel
in the sense of choke
Definition
to hinder the growth of
The village roads are choked with traffic.
Synonyms
block,
dam,
clog,
obstruct,
bung,
constrict,
occlude (formal),
congest,
close,
stop,
bar
in the sense of clog
Definition
to obstruct or become obstructed with thick or sticky matter
The traffic clogged the Thames bridges.
Synonyms
obstruct,
block,
jam,
hamper,
hinder,
impede,
bung,
stop up,
dam up,
occlude (formal),
congest
in the sense of cover
Definition
to screen or conceal
the black patch which covered his left eye
Synonyms
conceal,
cover up,
screen,
hide,
shade,
curtain,
mask,
disguise,
obscure,
hood,
veil,
cloak,
shroud,
camouflage,
enshroud
in the sense of frustrate
Definition
to hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
Synonyms
thwart,
stop,
check,
block,
defeat,
disappoint,
counter,
confront,
spoil,
foil,
baffle,
inhibit,
hobble,
balk,
circumvent,
forestall,
neutralize,
stymie,
nullify,
render null and void,
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of hamper
Definition
to make it difficult for (someone or something) to move or progress
I was hampered by a lack of information.
Synonyms
hinder,
handicap,
hold up,
prevent,
restrict,
frustrate,
curb,
slow down,
restrain,
hamstring,
interfere with,
cramp,
thwart,
obstruct,
impede,
hobble,
fetter,
encumber,
trammel
in the sense of hamstring
Definition
to make it difficult for someone to take any action
He could hamstring a conservative-led coalition.
Synonyms
thwart,
stop,
block,
prevent,
ruin,
frustrate,
handicap,
curb,
foil,
obstruct,
impede,
balk,
fetter
in the sense of hide
Definition
to obscure or cover (something) from view
The compound was hidden by trees and shrubs.
Synonyms
obscure,
cover,
screen,
bury,
shelter,
mask,
disguise,
conceal,
eclipse,
veil,
cloak,
shroud,
camouflage,
blot out
in the sense of hinder
Definition
to get in the way of (someone or something)
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
Synonyms
obstruct,
stop,
check,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
delay,
oppose,
frustrate,
handicap,
interrupt,
slow down,
deter,
hamstring,
hamper,
thwart,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
stymie,
encumber,
throw a spanner in the works,
trammel,
hold up or back
in the sense of inhibit
Definition
to restrain or hinder (an impulse or desire)
buildings which inhibit the supply of light and air
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
prevent,
check,
bar,
arrest,
frustrate,
curb,
restrain,
constrain,
obstruct,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
throw a spanner in the works of,
hold back or in
Additional synonyms
in the sense of interrupt
Definition
to stop (a process or activity) temporarily
Our view was interrupted only by an occasional squall of pigeons.
Synonyms
block,
limit,
restrict,
cut off,
obstruct,
impede
in the sense of mask
Definition
to hide or disguise
A thick grey cloud masked the sun.
Synonyms
disguise,
hide,
conceal,
obscure,
cover (up),
screen,
blanket,
veil,
cloak,
mantle,
camouflage,
enshroud
in the sense of plug
Definition
to block or seal (a hole or gap) with a plug
Crews are working to plug a major oil leak.
Synonyms
seal,
close,
stop,
fill,
cover,
block,
stuff,
pack,
cork,
choke,
stopper,
bung,
stop up,
stopple
in the sense of prevent
Definition
to keep (someone from doing something)
We took steps to prevent it happening.These methods prevent pregnancy.
Synonyms
stop,
avoid,
frustrate,
restrain,
check,
bar,
block,
anticipate,
hamper,
foil,
inhibit,
head off,
avert,
thwart,
intercept,
hinder,
obstruct,
preclude,
impede,
counteract,
ward off,
balk,
stave off,
forestall,
defend against,
obviate (formal),
nip in the bud
in the sense of restrict
The shoulder straps restrict movement.
Synonyms
hamper,
impede,
handicap,
restrain,
cramp,
inhibit,
straiten
in the sense of retard
Definition
to delay or slow down (the progress or development) of (something)
Continuing violence will retard negotiations.
Synonyms
slow down,
check,
arrest,
delay,
handicap,
stall,
brake,
detain,
defer,
clog,
hinder,
obstruct,
impede,
set back,
encumber,
decelerate,
hold back or up
in the sense of screen
Definition
to shelter, protect, or conceal with or as if with a screen
The road is screened by a block of flats.
Synonyms
cover,
hide,
conceal,
shade,
mask,
disguise,
veil,
cloak,
shroud,
camouflage,
shut out
in the sense of shield
Definition
to protect, hide, or defend (someone or something) from danger or harm
He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.
Synonyms
protect,
cover,
screen,
guard,
defend,
shelter,
safeguard
in the sense of stop
Definition
to prevent the continuance or completion of (something)
I think she really would have liked to stop everything right there.
Synonyms
prevent,
suspend,
cut short,
close,
break,
check,
bar,
arrest,
silence,
frustrate,
axe (informal),
interrupt,
restrain,
hold back,
intercept,
hinder,
repress,
impede,
rein in,
forestall,
nip (something) in the bud
in the sense of thwart
Definition
to prevent or foil
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.