obstruct Hear it!

obstruct Definition

ob·struct (əb strukt′)

transitive verb

  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)

Etymology: < L obstructus, pp. of obstruere, to block up, build against < ob- (see ob-) + struere, to pile up: see strew

obstruct Related Forms

ob·struct′er noun or ob·struc′·tor

obstruct Synonyms

obstruct

v.

  1. To impede with an obstruction

    hinder, stop, interfere, terminate; see hinder, prevent, restrain 1.

  2. To place an obstruction

    block, clog, barricade; see bar 1. See syn. study at hinder.

obstruct Usage Examples

Object

  • footway: Please do not obstruct the footway or the road.
  • airway: Take care not to grip below the tip of the jawbone which would obstruct the airway.
  • highway: The offense is obstructing the highway, not other highway users.
  • pavement: A car is obstructing the pavement at Phoenix Place.
  • gangway: Bicycles must not be placed where they could obstruct any gangway or any passenger entrance or exit.
  • constable: He has been charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty.

Subject

  • tree: Sunday 16th October: Vegetation Clearance Just north of Garvestone is a foot crossing where the visibility for pedestrians was somewhat obstructed by trees.
  • fire: Your plan should take into account the possibility that your normal way out may be obstructed by fire.

Modifying Another Word

  • wilfully: The penalty for wilfully obstructing or delaying an authorized officer is a maximum fine at level five.
  • intentionally: No person shall intentionally obstruct any officer or employe of the Trustees in the execution of his duties.
  • illegally: The route was illegally obstructed and overgrown with brambles and other vegetation.
  • deliberately: The natural response to this is to deliberately obstruct the cyclist.
  • partially: A mass in the lumen of the colon may completely or partially obstruct the passage of stools.
  • seriously: Such people, in fact, find themselves in a situation that seriously obstructs them from properly relating to men and women.

Used with why or when

  • when: CIP is a rare condition in which the intestine behaves as if it is obstructed when no mechanical block is present.
  • what: You may find some council officers obstruct what you are trying to achieve or are unwilling to help.

Preposition: in

way: Where views are obstructed in this way, the club should take the row or rows concerned out of use.

Preposition: by

  • tree: Sunday 16th October: Vegetation Clearance Just north of Garvestone is a foot crossing where the visibility for pedestrians was somewhat obstructed by trees.
  • fire: Your plan should take into account the possibility that your normal way out may be obstructed by fire.
  • boulder: It becomes low and narrow and is frequently obstructed by boulders which force us into flat-out crawling.