obstruct

C2+ Topic:Verbs of Movement

US /əbˈstrʌkt/ UK /əbˈstrʌkt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to block or hinder the passage, movement, or progress of

A fallen tree obstructed the road for most of the morning.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to block or hinder the... block hinder impede hamper bar thwart clog

Opposites

clear facilitate aidunblockassist

Word family

Forms obstructiveunobstructed

Derived forms obstructionobstructorobstructive

Related forms structure construct instruct

Etymology

From Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere ('to build against, block up'), from ob- ('against') plus struere ('to pile, build').

obstruere Latin struere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Verbs of Movement

External links

# obstruct

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əbˈstrʌkt/
**IPA (UK):** /əbˈstrʌkt/

## Meanings
1. to block or hinder the passage, movement, or progress of

## Examples
- A fallen tree obstructed the road for most of the morning.

## Synonyms
- block
- hinder
- impede
- hamper
- bar
- thwart
- clog

## Antonyms
- clear
- facilitate
- aid
- unblock
- assist

## Derived Forms
- obstruction
- obstructor
- obstructive

## Related Forms
- structure
- construct
- instruct

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: obstruere
- Root: struere

## Etymology
From Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere ('to build against, block up'), from ob- ('against') plus struere ('to pile, build').

## AI Etymology
Obstruct comes from Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere ('to build against, block up'), from ob- ('against') plus struere ('to pile, build'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a verb, it means "to block or hinder the passage, movement, or progress of", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Latin obstruere and Latin struere. Derivative forms include obstruction, obstructor, obstructive; related words include structure, construct, instruct.

## Topics
- Verbs of Movement

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