Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

obtrude


ob·trude

verb \əb-ˈtrüd, äb-\
ob·trud·edob·trud·ing

Definition of OBTRUDE

transitive verb
1
: to thrust out : extrude
2
: to force or impose (as oneself or one's ideas) without warrant or request
intransitive verb
: to become unduly prominent or interfering : intrude
ob·trud·er noun

Examples of OBTRUDE

  1. The historical details in the movie do not obtrude—they enhance the story by making it more realistic.
  2. <please stop obtruding in your brother's affairs>

Origin of OBTRUDE

Latin obtrudere to thrust at, from ob- in the way + trudere to thrust — more at ob-, threat
First Known Use: circa 1609

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: obtruncate
Previous Word in the Dictionary: obtrect
All Words Near: obtrude

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up obtrude? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).