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obstacle

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈɒbstəkəl/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈɑbstəkəl/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ob′stə kəl)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ob•sta•cle /ˈɑbstəkəl/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. something that prevents or slows progress;
    an obstruction;
    hindrance.
See -stan-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ob•sta•cle  (ob′stə kəl),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. something that obstructs or hinders progress.
  • Latin obstāculum, equivalent. to obstā(re) to face, block, hinder (ob- ob- + stāre to stand) + -culum -cle2
  • Old French
  • Middle English 1300–50
    Obstacle, obstruction, hindrance, impediment refer to something that interferes with or prevents action or progress. An obstacle is something, material or nonmaterial, that stands in the way of literal or figurative progress:Lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement.An obstruction is something that more or less completely blocks a passage:A blood clot is an obstruction to the circulation.A hindrance keeps back by interfering and delaying:Interruptions are a hindrance to one's work.An impediment interferes with proper functioning:an impediment in one's speech.
    help.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
obstacle /ˈɒbstəkəl/ n
  1. a person or thing that opposes or hinders something
  2. Brit a fence or hedge used in showjumping
Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin obstāculum, from obstāre, from ob- against + stāre to stand
'obstacle' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a [minor, major, large, tough, serious] obstacle, are facing a [minor] obstacle, [represented, was, became, caused] an obstacle, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "obstacle" in the title:

A main obstacle
an obstacle to his enjoyment of life
arduous obstacle
are you [justified] in overleaping an obstacle of custom
as a conspirator against rather than as an antecedent obstacle
biggest obstacle or biggest bond
cleared the field of a hefty obstacle
difference between obstacle and obstruction
facilitator of / obstacle to
"feeling into distinctness every small obstacle"
more benefit than an obstacle
moving one leg over an obstacle and do the same with the other to go over it
no matter what the obstacle is
obstacle
obstacle (allophone)
obstacle + preposition
obstacle explaining why / obstacle in explaining
Obstacle to do or to doing
obstacle to practicing law or impediment to practice of law?
Obstruction Vs obstacle
overcoming prejudice=obstacle?
remove the obstacle ... before the cars were able to pass?
Street obstacle
the meaning of "obstacle" in the sentence.
to encounter an obstacle
to get across whatever the next obstacle is
working on an obstacle course
You hit an obstacle

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