obstruct Definition
ob·struct (əb strukt′)
transitive verb
- to block or stop up (a passage) with obstacles or impediments; dam; clog
- to hinder (progress, an activity, etc.); impede
- 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.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near obstruct
- ‹ obstreperous
- ‹ obstipation
- ‹ obstinately
- ‹ obstinate
- ‹ obstinacy
- ‹ obstetrics
- ‹ obstetrician
- ‹ obstetric
- ‹ obstacle course
- ‹ obstacle
- obstruction ›
- obstruction of justice ›
- obstructionist ›
- obstructive ›
- obstruent ›
- obtain ›
- obtainable ›
- obtect ›
- obtest ›
- obtrude ›

