Obvious Definition & Meaning - Adjective

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    • Synonyms obvious American [ob-vee-uhs] / ˈɒb vi əs /

    adjective

    1. easily seen, recognized, or understood; open to view or knowledge; evident.

      an obvious advantage.

      Synonyms: unmistakable, palpable, clear, manifest, plain Antonyms: hidden

    2. lacking in subtlety.

    3. Obsolete. being or standing in the way.

    obvious British / ˈɒbvɪəs /

    adjective

    1. easy to see or understand; evident

    2. exhibiting motives, feelings, intentions, etc, clearly or without subtlety

    3. naive or unsubtle

      the play was rather obvious

    4. obsolete being or standing in the way

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    See apparent.

    Other Word Forms

    • nonobvious adjective
    • nonobviously adverb
    • nonobviousness noun
    • obviously adverb
    • obviousness noun
    • overobvious adjective
    • preobvious adjective
    • preobviously adverb
    • preobviousness noun
    • unobvious adjective
    • unobviously adverb
    • unobviousness noun

    Etymology

    Origin of obvious

    First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin obvius “in the way, lying in the path,” equivalent to ob- ob- ( def. ) + vi(a) way 1 ( def. ) + -us, adjective suffix ( -ous ( def. ) )

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    With one game on New Year’s Eve and three on New Year’s Day, here are the most obvious takeaway takes on an appropriate theme ...

    From Los Angeles Times

    When the research team began exploring the genetics of attention, Homer1 was not an obvious candidate.

    From Science Daily

    "I think it is clear and obvious that we hardly concede chances any more," said Slot.

    From Barron's

    Tate covered hip-hop in a spirit neither of condemnation nor unconditional praise, but obvious love.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    The obvious question soon spawns more intriguing ones, namely, who survived, and where did they go?

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Related Words

    • accessible
    • clear
    • conspicuous
    • discernible
    • distinct
    • evident
    • glaring
    • indisputable
    • noticeable
    • overt
    • palpable
    • pronounced
    • recognizable
    • self-evident
    • straightforward
    • undeniable
    • unmistakable
    • visible

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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