Obstruct
/əbˈstrʌkt/
verbB2
Definition
Obstruct means to stop or slow down a path, process, or action by putting something in front of it. It can be used for physical things, like blocking a road, or for abstract ideas, like stopping progress or communication.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
To physically block a path or way
- •The fallen tree obstructed the road after the storm.
- •Construction work is obstructing the sidewalk.
- •Please do not obstruct the emergency exit.
To prevent or slow down a process or action
- •The lawyer was accused of trying to obstruct justice.
- •His bad attitude obstructed the team's progress.
- •Technical problems obstructed the launch of the website.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "obstruct" like "block" (A1 word), but more formal and often used for bigger or more serious situations
- ✓Picture a big rock placed in the middle of a narrow path, making it hard or impossible to walk through
- ✓It's the feeling when something stops you from doing what you want, like a locked door or a long line
- ✓Sounds like "ob-STRUCT" → imagine someone putting a wall (structure) in your way to stop you
- ✓In stories, villains often obstruct heroes by putting traps or barriers to slow them down
- ✓NOT like "stop" (which can be sudden and complete), "obstruct" often means making progress difficult or slow, not always fully stopped
- ✓NOT like "block" (which can be simple), "obstruct" often suggests more effort or difficulty caused by the obstacle
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (no action), "obstruct" is an active action to cause difficulty
Try Other Words
- •Block: to stop something by putting something in front of it (Use when the obstacle is simple or physical)
- •Hinder: to make something slower or more difficult (Use when talking about slowing down processes or progress)
- •Stop: to make something not happen or end (Use when the action is completely ended)
- •Delay: to make something happen later than planned (Use when the obstruction causes time loss)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "ob-" (against, toward) + root "struct" (build)
- •Etymology: From Latin "obstruere," meaning to build against or block up
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to mean building or placing something to block or close a way
- •Modern usage: Common in legal, physical, and figurative contexts to describe blocking or preventing progress or movement
Reflect & Connect
•Can obstruction sometimes be helpful or necessary? When might blocking something be good?
•How do different types of obstruction (physical vs. abstract) affect people’s feelings or actions?
Fill in the blanks
1.The fallen branches ___ the path, so hikers had to find another way.
2.When someone tries to ___ justice, they make it harder for the law to work properly.
3.A large truck was ___ the street, causing a traffic jam.
4.Sometimes, fear or doubt can ___ a person's ability to try new things.
5.The workers were careful not to ___ the fire exit during the renovation.
6.If you ___ a process, it usually takes ___ time to finish.
7.The protesters tried to ___ the entrance to the building to make their point.