obstacle

noun

ob·​sta·​cle ˈäb-sti-kəl 

-ˌsti-

: something that impedes progress or achievement

swerved to avoid an obstacle in the road

Lack of experience proved to be an obstacle in her job search.

… elders … often facing daily medical, social, and psychological obstacles.

—Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-Field

Synonyms of obstacle

• hurdle
• obstruction
• embarrassment
• barrier

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

Some people, though, despite such obstacles, seem to be expert finishers. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026

That divide — spanning creative processes, industrial workflows and professional cultures — was repeatedly cited as a key obstacle, but also as an opportunity for new forms of collaboration. —Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026

Variations in terrain, obstacles, or external disturbances can significantly impact performance, making real-world deployment challenging. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Mar. 2026

Expect to be liked Your expectation of rejection is your biggest obstacle. —Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing obstacle

• obstacle course
• obstacle race

Kids Definition

obstacle

noun

ob·​sta·​cle ˈäb-sti-kəl 

: 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