obvious

adjective

ob·vi·ous | \ ˈäb-vē-əs

Definition of obvious

1 : easily discovered, seen, or understood It was obvious that things weren't working out. She stayed for obvious reasons.

2 archaic : being in the way or in front

Other Words from obvious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about obvious

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Choose the Right Synonym for obvious

evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended. evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion. an evident fondness for sweets manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required. manifest hostility patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it. patent defects distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required. a distinct refusal obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer. the obvious solution apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference. for no apparent reason plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration. her feelings about him are plain clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern. a clear explanation

Examples of obvious in a Sentence

Her doctor immediately noticed the obvious signs of the disease. She saw only the most obvious differences. It was obvious that things weren't working out. The answer seems obvious enough to me. The problem was immediately obvious to everyone in the room. He was the obvious candidate for president. The obvious question is: how did he become so successful? For obvious reasons, I would not like to reveal my name.

Recent Examples on the Web

But McWilliams does not believe in simply mixing old architecture with new art—that would be too obvious. — Nancy Hass, ELLE Decor, "A Legendary 1920s Palm Beach House is a Showcase for a Striking Art Collection," 17 Apr. 2019 Still, several of these changes now seem obvious in retrospect, and long overdue. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "5 Google G Suite changes that will improve your life," 11 Apr. 2019 The answers aren't obvious, but more so embedded in the specific songs Weiss and Benioff selected. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "The Game of Thrones Ending Is Hidden in This Playlist," 9 Apr. 2019 For brands, the benefits of catering to this demographic are obvious. — E.j. Dickson, Vox, "How brands are capitalizing on your lack of plans.," 26 Dec. 2018 And the obvious question looms — will Uber & Lyft purchase an electric scooter company next? — Polina Marinova, Fortune, "Term Sheet -- Friday, July 6," 6 July 2018 Hotel Alessandra With a chic aesthetic and buzzy atmosphere, the glassy Hotel Alessandra is an obvious choice for travelers who like to explore whatever's new and exciting in any given town. — Diana Oates, Condé Nast Traveler, "10 Best Hotels in Houston," 9 Oct. 2018 Two forces are acting as a pincer, making the decision more and more obvious. — David Roberts, Vox, "We could shift to sustainability and save $26 trillion. Why are aren’t we doing it?," 6 Sep. 2018 Bitcoin, however, is not necessarily the most obvious choice for those looking to conceal their transactions. — Gregory Barber, WIRED, "Someone Found a Use for Bitcoin. Russian Hackers!," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obvious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

21 May 2019

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Time Traveler for obvious

The first known use of obvious was in 1583

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More Definitions for obvious

obvious

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of obvious

: easy to see or notice

: easy for the mind to understand or recognize

See the full definition for obvious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

obvious

adjective

ob·vi·ous | \ ˈäb-vē-əs

Kids Definition of obvious

: easily found, seen, or understood He … held on to me, even after it was obvious that I was not going to fall.— Sharon Creech, Walk Two Moons

obvious

adjective

ob·vi·ous

Legal Definition of obvious

: easily seen, discovered, or understood specifically : readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in a particular art considering the scope and content of the prior art — see also patent

Note: An invention that is found to be obvious cannot be patented.