obstruct

verb ob·struct \ əb-ˈstrəkt , äb- \

Updated on: 7 Dec 2017

Definition of obstruct

transitive verb

1 : to block or close up by an obstacle

A piece of food obstructed his airway.

The road was obstructed by a fallen tree.

2 : to hinder from passage, action, or operation : impede

Constant interruptions obstruct our progress.

was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators

3 : to cut off from sight

A wall obstructs the view.

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obstructive

play \əb-ˈstrək-tiv, äb-\ adjective or noun

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obstructiveness

noun

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obstructor

play \əb-ˈstrək-tər, äb-\ noun

See obstruct defined for English-language learners

See obstruct defined for kids

Examples of obstruct in a Sentence

A large tree obstructed the road.
A piece of food obstructed his airway and caused him to stop breathing.
She was charged with obstructing police.
She was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators.

Recent Examples of obstruct from the Web

Romuald Moise, 22, of the 8100 block of Kilpatrick Avenue, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting or obstructing an officer or firefighter stemming from an incident Oct. 28 in the 8300 block of Skokie Boulevard.

— pioneer press, chicagotribune.com, "Skokie police: Wilmette man facing drug possession charges," 3 Nov. 2017
Question 3: When the student protesters obstructed traffic, what did onlookers do?

— michael harriot, The Root, "University of Mich. Students Illustrate When It’s OK to Punch a Racist," 21 Sep. 2017
Chester Lewis Sylvester, 49, of the 1200 block of Abinjud Drive, was charged Sunday with obstructing and hindering police, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Harford County police blotter," 13 Sep. 2017
People familiar with the probe have told the Washington Post that Mueller’s team is looking at the decision to fire Comey, which some have argued could be interpreted by prosecutors as part of an effort to obstruct justice.

— fred barbash, Philly.com, "Bannon: Trump firing of Comey was the 'biggest mistake in modern political history'," 11 Sep. 2017
Jimmy Messer was arrested and charged with resisting, obstructing and delaying the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

— lavendrick smith, charlotteobserver, "They were drinking beer and watching a lawnmower on fire. Then the cops showed up.," 22 Sep. 2017
But the netting does not obstruct views nearly as much as detractors say.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers should exceed MLB standards, expand protective netting," 21 Sep. 2017
Veneranda rushed at them at the foot of the escalator, practically obstructing the other foot traffic.

— margaret redmond whitehead, Good Housekeeping, "I Thought My Daughter Was Gone Forever. Ten Years Later, There She Was in a Photo.," 15 Sep. 2017
At least three of the dozen people who walked onto Lake Shore around 8:30 a.m. were arrested for obstructing traffic, according to organizers and Chicago police.

— william lee, chicagotribune.com, "Homeless, activists shut down part of Lake Shore Drive during morning commute," 7 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of obstruct

Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere, from ob- in the way + struere to build, heap up — more at ob-, strew

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1590

See Words from the same year

obstruct Synonyms

Synonyms

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, hamper, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel

Antonyms

aid, assist, facilitate, help

Related Words

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain; bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie; arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard; barricade, block, blockade, roadblock; bog (down), mire; choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate; baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart; derail, disrupt, sabotage; muzzle, repress, suppress; confine, hedge (in), hem (in)

Near Antonyms

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop; free, liberate, release, untie; loosen, smooth; encourage, further, promote

Synonym Discussion of obstruct

hinder, impede, obstruct, block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of. hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

- rain hindered the climb

impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

- tight clothing that impedes movement

obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

- the view was obstructed by billboards

block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

- a landslide blocked the road

OBSTRUCT Defined for English Language Learners

obstruct

verb

Definition of obstruct for English Language Learners

: to block (something, such as a pipe or street) so that things cannot move through easily
: to slow or block the movement, progress, or action of (something or someone)
: to be in front of (something) : to make (something) difficult to see

OBSTRUCT Defined for Kids

obstruct

verb ob·struct \ əb-ˈstrəkt \

Definition of obstruct for Students

obstructed; obstructing

1 : to block or make passage through difficult

A fallen tree is obstructing the road.

2 : to be or come in the way of : hinder

She was uncooperative and obstructed the investigation.

3 : to make (something) difficult to see The new building obstructs their view of the ocean.

Word Root of obstruct

The Latin word struere, meaning “to build,” and its form structus give us the root struct. Words from the Latin struere have something to do with building. A structure is something that was built, such as a house. To construct is to build by combining parts together. To obstruct is to build an obstacle that blocks a passage or path. Destruction is the process of taking apart something that was built.