An obstacle is an object that makes it difficult for you to go where you want to go, because it is in your way.
Most competition cars will only roll over if they hit an obstacle.
He left her to navigate her own way round the trolleys and other obstacles.
Synonyms: obstruction, block, barrier, hurdle More Synonyms of obstacle
2. countable noun
You can refer to anything that makes it difficult for you to do something as an obstacle.
Overcrowding remains a large obstacle to improving conditions. [+ to]
To succeed, you must learn to overcome obstacles.
Synonyms: hindrance, check, bar, block More Synonyms of obstacle
obstacle in British English
(ˈɒbstəkəl)
noun
1.
a person or thing that opposes or hinders something
2. British
a fence or hedge used in showjumping
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin obstāculum, from obstāre, from ob- against + stāre to stand
obstacle in American English
(ˈɑbstəkəl)
noun
anything that gets in the way or hinders; impediment; obstruction; hindrance
SYNONYMY NOTE: obstacle is used of anything which literally or figuratively stands in the way of one's progress[her father's opposition remained their only obstacle]; impediment applies to anything that delays or retards progress by interfering with the normalaction [a speech impediment]; obstruction refers to anything that blocks progress or some activity as if by stopping up a passage[your interference is an obstruction of justice]; hindrance applies to anything that thwarts progress by holding back or delaying [lack of supplies is the greatest hindrance to my experiment]; barrier applies to any apparently insurmountable obstacle that prevents progress or keepsseparate and apart [language differences are often a barrier to understanding]
Word origin
OFr < L obstaculum, obstacle < obstare, to withstand < ob- (see ob-) + stare, to stand
COBUILD Collocations
obstacle
formidable obstacle
insurmountable obstacle
main obstacle
major obstacle
overcome obstacles
present an obstacle
prove an obstacle
Examples of 'obstacle' in a sentence
obstacle
The ageing body can be an obstacle to overcome.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Positive thinkers are simply wrong to argue that the mind can overcome any obstacle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My complexion had always been an obstacle to overcome.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet from the outset he faced innumerable obstacles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
No matter what obstacles or challenges face us.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This is important because life will always throw obstacles in your way.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It took courage to overcome that obstacle, but he did so because he was moved by high ideals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I need to overcome my obstacles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I didn't learn anything to overcome these obstacles.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
In the course of that investigation we hit obstacle after obstacle.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
What obstacles did you face at the beginning?
Christianity Today (2000)
There are still many obstacles in the way of such grandiose dreams.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Now a new obstacle on the path to the boardroom has been identified.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Many of the roads have soft verges making it difficult to bypass obstacles on the road surface.
McInnes, Colin NATO's Changing Strategic Agenda (1990)
Your ambitions chart helps you overcome obstacles and keep working towards success.
The Sun (2010)
Explain the obstacles that must be addressed in designing and conducting effective performance appraisals.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Radical changes require heavy expenditure of political capital in the face of massive obstacles.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was an extra obstacle to overcome in the form of a bear.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Anything that comes between her and her music is an obstacle that must be removed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But look what other obstacles modern pupils face.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There are other big obstacles to overcome in the fight against superbugs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My advice when you hit an obstacle such as this is to find ways to go around it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You will find a firm but friendly way to deal with people who put obstacles in your way.
The Sun (2012)
Here we hit our next obstacle.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your confidence is riding high and you'll crush any obstacles in your path.
The Sun (2015)
Before the election I set up a team of experts to recommend how to challenge bureaucratic obstacles and poor practice.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
obstacle
British English: obstacle /ˈɒbstəkl/ NOUN
An obstacle is something which makes it difficult for you to go forward or do something.
A rabbit can jump obstacles up to three feet high.
American English: obstacle
Arabic: عُقبَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: obstáculo
Chinese: 障碍
Croatian: prepreka
Czech: překážka
Danish: forhindring
Dutch: obstakel
European Spanish: obstáculo
Finnish: este
French: obstacle
German: Hindernis
Greek: κώλυμα
Italian: ostacolo
Japanese: 障害物
Korean: 장애물
Norwegian: hindring
Polish: przeszkoda
European Portuguese: obstáculo
Romanian: obstacol
Russian: препятствие
Latin American Spanish: obstáculo
Swedish: hinder
Thai: อุปสรรค
Turkish: engel
Ukrainian: перешкода
Vietnamese: sự trở ngại
Chinese translation of 'obstacle'
obstacle
(ˈɔbstəkl)
n(c)
(= physical barrier) 障碍(礙) (zhàng'ài) (个(個), gè)
(= difficulty) 阻碍(礙) (zǔ'ài)
an obstacle to sth/to doing sth某事/做某事的障碍(礙) (mǒushì/zuò mǒushì de zhàng'ài)
1 (noun)
Definition
a person or thing that hinders movement
She had to navigate her way round trolleys and other obstacles.
Synonyms
obstruction
drivers parking near his house and causing an obstruction
block
a block to peace
barrier
Duties and taxes are the most obvious barriers to free trade.
hurdle
The weather will be the biggest hurdle.
hazard
snag
A police crackdown hit a snag when villains stole one of their cars.
impediment
There is no legal impediment to the marriage.
blockage
The logical treatment is to remove the blockage.
hindrance
2 (noun)
Definition
a situation or event that prevents something being done
Overcrowding remains a large obstacle to improving conditions.
Synonyms
hindrance
Higher rates have been a hindrance to economic recovery.
check
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.
bar
one of the fundamental bars to communication
block
difficulty
The main difficulty has been getting enough students to try out the scheme.
barrier
handicap
Being a foreigner was not a handicap.
hurdle
hitch
The five-hour operation went without a hitch.
drawback
The only drawback was that the apartment was too small.
snag
deterrent
Police believe that CCTV cameras are an effective deterrent.
uphill (South Africa)
obstruction
Americans viewed the army as an obstruction to legitimate economic development.
stumbling block
Perhaps the major stumbling block is the military presence.
impediment
Opposites
help
,
support
,
benefit
,
aid
,
advantage
,
asset
,
assistance
,
crutch
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bar
Definition
anything that obstructs or prevents
one of the fundamental bars to communication
Synonyms
obstacle,
block,
barrier,
hurdle,
hitch,
barricade,
snag,
deterrent,
obstruction,
stumbling block,
impediment,
hindrance,
interdict
in the sense of barrier
Definition
anything that separates or hinders union
Duties and taxes are the most obvious barriers to free trade.
Synonyms
obstacle,
bar,
block,
handicap,
hurdle,
limitation,
hitch,
drawback,
snag,
obstruction,
stumbling block,
impediment,
hindrance
in the sense of block
Definition
an obstruction or hindrance
a block to peace
Synonyms
obstruction,
bar,
barrier,
obstacle,
impediment,
hindrance
Synonyms of 'obstacle'
obstacle
Explore 'obstacle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blockage
The logical treatment is to remove the blockage.
Synonyms
obstruction,
block,
blocking,
stoppage,
impediment,
occlusion
in the sense of check
Definition
a means to ensure against fraud or error
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.
Synonyms
control,
limitation,
restraint,
constraint,
rein,
obstacle,
curb,
obstruction,
stoppage,
inhibition,
impediment,
hindrance,
damper
in the sense of deterrent
Definition
something that deters
Police believe that CCTV cameras are an effective deterrent.
Synonyms
discouragement,
obstacle,
curb,
restraint,
impediment,
check,
hindrance,
disincentive,
defensive measures,
determent
in the sense of difficulty
Definition
an objection or obstacle
The main difficulty has been getting enough students to try out the scheme.
Synonyms
problem,
trouble,
obstacle,
hurdle,
dilemma,
hazard,
complication,
hassle (informal),
snag,
uphill (South Africa),
predicament,
pitfall,
stumbling block,
impediment,
hindrance,
tribulation,
quandary,
can of worms (informal),
point at issue,
disputed point
in the sense of drawback
Definition
a disadvantage or hindrance
The only drawback was that the apartment was too small.
Synonyms
disadvantage,
trouble,
difficulty,
fault,
handicap,
obstacle,
defect,
deficiency,
flaw,
hitch,
nuisance,
snag,
downside,
stumbling block,
impediment,
detriment,
imperfection,
hindrance,
fly in the ointment (informal)
in the sense of handicap
Definition
something that makes progress difficult
Being a foreigner was not a handicap.
Synonyms
disadvantage,
block,
barrier,
restriction,
obstacle,
limitation,
hazard,
drawback,
shortcoming,
stumbling block,
impediment,
albatross,
hindrance,
millstone,
encumbrance
in the sense of hitch
Definition
a temporary or minor problem or difficulty
The five-hour operation went without a hitch.
Synonyms
problem,
catch (informal),
trouble,
check,
difficulty,
delay,
hold-up,
obstacle,
hazard,
drawback,
hassle (informal),
snag,
uphill (South Africa),
stoppage,
mishap,
impediment,
hindrance
in the sense of hurdle
Definition
a difficulty or problem
The weather will be the biggest hurdle.
Synonyms
obstacle,
block,
difficulty,
barrier,
handicap,
hazard,
complication,
snag,
uphill (South Africa),
obstruction,
stumbling block,
impediment,
hindrance
in the sense of impediment
Definition
a hindrance or obstruction
There is no legal impediment to the marriage.
Synonyms
obstacle,
barrier,
check,
bar,
block,
difficulty,
hazard,
curb,
snag,
obstruction,
stumbling block,
hindrance,
encumbrance,
fly in the ointment,
millstone around your neck
in the sense of snag
Definition
a small problem or difficulty
A police crackdown hit a snag when villains stole one of their cars.
Synonyms
difficulty,
hitch,
problem,
obstacle,
catch (informal),
hazard,
disadvantage,
complication,
drawback,
inconvenience,
downside,
stumbling block,
the rub
Additional synonyms
in the sense of stumbling block
Definition
any obstacle that prevents something from taking place or progressing
Perhaps the major stumbling block is the military presence.