obviate Hear it!

obviate Definition

ob·vi·ate (äbvē āt′)

transitive verb -·at′ed, -·at′·ing

to do away with or prevent by effective measures; make unnecessary

Etymology: < LL obviatus, pp. of obviare, to prevent < obvius: see obvious

obviate Related Forms

ob′·via·tion noun

obviate Synonyms

obviate

v.

preclude, forestall, block; see hinder, prevent, restrain 1. See syn. study at prevent.

obviate Law Definition

v

  1. To anticipate and prevent something from happening; to dispose of something.
  2. To make something no longer necessary.

obviate Usage Examples

Object

  • necessity: Lessons meant to be learned from life situations are grasped more easily, obviating the necessity for harsher routes to learning them.
  • need: Getting rid of the second summit would obviate the need to carry two maps.
  • danger: This will obviate the danger of the climber's carbide lamp flame burning through the nylon lifeline.
  • possibility: The destruction by burning is to ensure safety to environment and human health and to obviate any possibility of cross-pollination.
  • difficulty: The Editor of the Mercury proposes to obviate the difficulty, by giving the latter name to all three.
  • risk: Could not these be fastened down in some way to obviate any risk?

Adjective complement

most: This obviates most of the attacks of the previous paper.

Modifying Another Word

  • thereby: However, it's quite likely that Rasputin would not have gained power over the Imperial couple, thereby obviating the need to assassinate him.
  • thus: One idea is that the power source for such devices should be a MEMS device in itself, thus obviating the need for wires.
  • entirely: The risks of client succession are entirely obviated since the clinic is closed when other practices are open.
  • not: This strategy does not obviate the need for Heads of School to take steps to address such matters at a school level.
  • also: Increased road access may also obviate the need for airdrops.
  • even: They may answer some of your questions or even obviate the need for a consultancy visit.

Present participle complement

have: This obviates having to regenerate the entire database every time a file or set of files change.

Browse dictionary entries near obviate

  1. obvert
  2. obversion
  3. obverse
  4. obtusely
  5. obtuse
  6. obturate
  7. obtund
  8. obtrusively
  9. obtrusive
  10. obtrude
  1. obvious
  2. obviously
  3. obvolute
  4. Obwalden
  5. Oc
  6. oc-
  7. ocarina
  8. OCC
  9. Occam
  10. Occam's razor