obstacle course
noun
: a military training course filled with obstacles (such as hurdles, fences, walls, and ditches) that must be negotiated
broadly
: a series of obstacles that must be overcome
Examples of obstacle course in a Sentence
We finally made it through the bureaucratic obstacle course and got our visas.
Recent Examples on the Web
The family-friendly event features two inflatable obstacle courses, interactive children’s activities, face painting and a soccer shootout game.
—
Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Highlights include a giant floating obstacle course, underwater and dry-land Easter egg hunts, a Glow in the Dark egg hunt, bounce houses, the Easter Bunny and local vendors.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
Tough Mudder, the military-style endurance experience—where contestants looking to test their mental and physical limits can take on 5K to 24-hour muddy obstacle courses that require them to run, jump, crawl, climb and swim—was the exception to this rule.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 24 Mar. 2024
Highlights include game trucks, laser tag, obstacle courses, tacos and free churros (for first 200 guests).
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Parkour, which is performed on obstacle courses or even in dense urban areas, requires a combination of athleticism and rapid decision making.
—Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024
During the challenge, the players had to assemble a cart, dig out a chest, move the cart through an obstacle course and eventually solve a puzzle.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
Two-legged robots competing in high-profile Pentagon challenges famously stumbled and fell their way through obstacle courses like an inebriated pub-crawler while Tesla’s highly-hyped humanoid bot, years later, turned out to be nothing more than a man dancing in a skin-tight bodysuit.
—Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
My eating disorder sets a particular obstacle course, but there are plenty of other hurdles large and small that keep people from achieving their kitchen goals.
—Amanda Long, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Highlights include a giant floating obstacle course, underwater and dry-land Easter egg hunts, a Glow in the Dark egg hunt, bounce houses, the Easter Bunny and local vendors.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
Tough Mudder, the military-style endurance experience—where contestants looking to test their mental and physical limits can take on 5K to 24-hour muddy obstacle courses that require them to run, jump, crawl, climb and swim—was the exception to this rule.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 24 Mar. 2024
Highlights include game trucks, laser tag, obstacle courses, tacos and free churros (for first 200 guests).
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Parkour, which is performed on obstacle courses or even in dense urban areas, requires a combination of athleticism and rapid decision making.
—Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024
During the challenge, the players had to assemble a cart, dig out a chest, move the cart through an obstacle course and eventually solve a puzzle.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
Two-legged robots competing in high-profile Pentagon challenges famously stumbled and fell their way through obstacle courses like an inebriated pub-crawler while Tesla’s highly-hyped humanoid bot, years later, turned out to be nothing more than a man dancing in a skin-tight bodysuit.
—Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
My eating disorder sets a particular obstacle course, but there are plenty of other hurdles large and small that keep people from achieving their kitchen goals.
—Amanda Long, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obstacle course.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1942, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near obstacle course
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle%20course. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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