obstacle

noun

ob·​sta·​cle ˈäb-sti-kəl How to pronounce obstacle (audio)
-ˌsti-
: something that impedes progress or achievement
Mosquitoes were a great obstacle to the building of the Panama Canal.
… elders … often facing daily medical, social, and psychological obstacles.Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-Field

Examples of obstacle in a Sentence

He overcame the obstacles of poverty and neglect. They must overcome a number of obstacles before the restaurant can be opened. Lack of experience is a major obstacle for her opponent. She swerved to avoid an obstacle in the road.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Powered by Adelaide, Forbes AI Running a company means facing obstacles that shake your foundation. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 Players utilize a set of common rules -- that can be altered by the game master -- and dice to overcome obstacles as the group works to collaboratively tell a story. Remington Miller, Arkansas Online, 16 May 2025 Apparently not: whatever obstacles there may have been before, the original group will be performing together for the first time in three and a half decades this weekend, at the behest of Goldenvoice, for the promoter’s annual Cruel World festival in Pasadena. Chris Willman, Variety, 16 May 2025 Perhaps the biggest obstacle to bilateral relations is Ms. Hasina, whom India refuses to hand over to Bangladesh to stand trial on charges of corruption and human rights abuses. Simon Montlake, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for obstacle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin obstaculum, from obstare to stand in front of, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obstacle was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

obstacle

noun
ob·​sta·​cle ˈäb-sti-kəl How to pronounce obstacle (audio)
: something that stands in the way of progress or achievement : hindrance
drove around the obstacles in the road
didn't let shortness be an obstacle to a basketball career

More from Merriam-Webster on obstacle

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