obstruct

UK: /əbˈstrʌkt/ US: /əbˈstrʌkt/ ,(əb strukt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•struct /əbˈstrʌkt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to block or close up, as by being in the way:
   The fallen rocks obstructed the road.
2. to interrupt, slow down, or prevent the progress of:
   to face charges of obstructing justice.

ob•struc•tive, adj. 
ob•struc•tive•ness, n. [uncountable] See -stru-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•struct  (əb strukt′), v.t. 

1. to block or close up with an obstacle; make difficult to pass:
   Debris obstructed the road.
2. to interrupt, hinder, or oppose the passage, progress, course, etc., of.
3. to block from sight;
   to be in the way of (a view, passage, etc.).

• Latin obstructus (past participle of obstruere to build or pile up in the way, bar). See ob-, construct
• 1605–15

ob•struct′ed•ly, adv. 
ob•struct′er, ob•struc′tor, n. 
ob•struct′ing•ly, adv. 
ob•struc′tive, adj. 
ob•struc′tive•ly, adv. 
ob•struc′tive•ness, ob•struc•tiv•i•ty  (ob′struk tiv′i tē), n.  Synonyms

• 1. stop, choke, clog, hinder, impede, prevent; check, slow, retard, arrest.

Antonyms

• 1. encourage, further.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

obstruct / əbˈstrʌkt/ verb (transitive)

1. to block (a road, passageway, etc) with an obstacle
2. to make (progress or activity) difficult
3. to impede or block a clear view of

Etymology: 17th Century: Latin obstructus built against, past participle of obstruere, from ob- against + struere to build

obˈstructor noun

obˈstructive adjective , noun

obˈstructively adverb

obˈstructiveness noun