obstruct
gb/əbstɹˈʌkt/ us/əbstɹˈʌkt/
B2
Inglês
~ 9900
Acepções
0 acepção
Verbo
B2
action
1
block a path, opening, or view
to block a road, door, or view so that people, things, or light cannot go through easily
Padrão de uso:
to obstruct [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes say *"The tree stops the road"* instead of *"The tree obstructs the road"* or *"blocks the road"*. Also, learners may try to use *obstruct* for emotional disturbance (e.g., *"The noise obstructs me"*), where *disturb* or *bother* would be more natural.
Sinônimos
block (More common and less formal; used in most everyday situations where movement is stopped.)
|
block off (Often used for closing a road or area completely, especially by police or workers.)
Antônimos
clear (Means to remove things so that the way, opening, or view is open again.)
|
unblock (Focuses on removing a physical blockage in something like a pipe, road, or passage.)
Colocações
obstruct the view
|obstruct the road
|obstruct the entrance
|obstruct traffic
|obstruct the doorway
Temas
movement
|daily life
|transport
|travel
|space
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- A fallen tree is obstructing the road after the storm.
- The large truck parked outside is obstructing our view of the park.
- Please do not leave boxes in the hallway; they could obstruct the emergency exit.
- Thick clouds obstructed the sun for most of the afternoon.
- Construction work has obstructed the main entrance to the building.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The car in front of my house obstructs my view.
- Big bags on the floor can obstruct the door.
- A broken bus obstructed traffic for one hour.
- Tall plants in the window obstruct the light.
- Do not obstruct the fire exit with chairs.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
2
make progress or action difficult
to make it hard for a plan, change, or activity to move forward or be successful
Padrão de uso:
to obstruct [activity or process]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use *stop* instead of *obstruct* in formal writing (e.g., *"stop progress"*). While understandable, *obstruct* or *hinder* sound more natural in formal or written contexts. Another mistake is using *obstruct* with a person as a direct object to mean 'disagree with' or 'criticize'; *obstruct* should target the activity or process, not simply the person.
Sinônimos
hinder (Very close in meaning; common in both formal and neutral styles for slowing progress.)
|
impede (Formal; often used in written English about processes, development, or movement of ideas or things.)
Antônimos
facilitate (Formal; means to make a process or action easier or more likely to succeed.)
|
promote (Means to actively support or help something to grow or succeed, the opposite of holding it back.)
Colocações
obstruct progress
|obstruct reform
|obstruct negotiations
|obstruct a plan
|obstruct change
Temas
work
|politics
|law
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The opposition party has been accused of trying to obstruct the reform process.
- Personal conflicts within the team are obstructing progress on the project.
- Several local groups attempted to obstruct the construction of the new airport.
- Poor communication can seriously obstruct cooperation between departments.
- He denied that he had done anything to obstruct the company’s restructuring plans.
Exemplos para estudantes
- Angry workers tried to obstruct the new company plan.
- Fear of change can obstruct personal growth.
- Bad internet can obstruct online meetings.
- Their refusal to share data obstructed the research.
- The manager does not want to obstruct your ideas.
Verbo
technical
C1
action
3
interfere with legal or official process
to try to stop or change the work of the police, courts, or other officials in a way that is against the law
Padrão de uso:
to obstruct [an official process or authority]
Erro comum:
Learners may use *obstruct justice* in casual situations where no legal process is involved, which sounds strange. This sense is mainly used about crime, law, and official investigations, not everyday disagreements or problems.
Sinônimos
interfere with (More general; can describe illegal or legal interference, depending on context.)
|
tamper with (Often used when someone secretly changes or damages something involved in an investigation or process.)
Antônimos
cooperate with (Means to work willingly with the authorities, which is the opposite of obstructing them.)
|
comply with (Means to follow official rules or requests instead of fighting against them.)
Colocações
obstruct justice
|obstruct an investigation
|obstruct the police
|obstruct law enforcement
|obstruct an officer
Temas
law
|crime
|politics
Exemplos
- He was charged with attempting to obstruct justice after hiding key documents from investigators.
- Witnesses who lie in court can be prosecuted for obstructing the course of justice.
- The report concluded that several officials had tried to obstruct the investigation.
- She was arrested for obstructing a police officer during the arrest.
- Any effort to destroy evidence may be treated as an attempt to obstruct justice.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The man went to jail for trying to obstruct justice.
- Destroying evidence can obstruct a police investigation.
- The lawyer warned his client not to obstruct the court process.
- Running away and pushing the officer can obstruct the police.
- The news said the politician tried to obstruct an official inquiry.
Gramática
Forma no dicionário
obstruct
AFI
GB/əbstɹˈʌkt/
US/əbstɹˈʌkt/
Sílabas e tonicidade
ob - struct (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (struct)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: obstruct
- 3rd Person Singular: obstructs
- Present Participle: obstructing
- Past: obstructed
Família de palavras
Forms
obstructs
verb
obstructing
verb
obstructed
verb
Core family
obstruction
noun B1
obstructive
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unobstructed
adjective
Advanced or less common
obstructively
adverb
obstructionist
noun
Expressões
obstruct justice
1/əbstɹˈʌkt d͡ʒˈʌstɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
interfere with criminal justice process
to do something on purpose that stops or slows the work of the police, courts, or other legal workers in a criminal case
Exemplos
- The business owner was accused of trying to obstruct justice by paying a witness to stay silent.
- Anyone who destroys evidence can be charged with attempting to obstruct justice.
- The article explained that lying to investigators may be considered a way to obstruct justice.
obstruct the course of justice
1/əbstɹˈʌkt ðə kˈɔɹs əv d͡ʒˈʌstɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
interfere with progress of a court case
to do things on purpose that stop or change the normal progress of a court case, for example by hiding evidence or pressuring witnesses
Exemplos
- The judge warned that any attempt to obstruct the course of justice would be treated very seriously.
- He was found guilty of perjury and of attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
- The police said that leaking the witness’s name might obstruct the course of justice.