obstruct
verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt 
äb-
obstructed; obstructing; obstructs
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.
obstructiveness
noun
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 on the Web
Illiberal leaders like Hungary's Viktor Orbán will likely obstruct efforts at deeper integration.
—
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The body camera of the other officer stayed on, but that officer did not exit his vehicle during the shooting, and the view from that angle is partly obstructed by the closed police car door.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025
The subpoenas are part of an ongoing lawsuit between Martinez and the Board of Education over arguments that board members obstructed the chief executive officer’s job duties.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
If the flight is full, the body should be returned to its original seat or one that doesn’t obstruct an aisle or exit.
—Jenny Gross, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstruct
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Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The body camera of the other officer stayed on, but that officer did not exit his vehicle during the shooting, and the view from that angle is partly obstructed by the closed police car door.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025
The subpoenas are part of an ongoing lawsuit between Martinez and the Board of Education over arguments that board members obstructed the chief executive officer’s job duties.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
If the flight is full, the body should be returned to its original seat or one that doesn’t obstruct an aisle or exit.
—Jenny Gross, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstruct
Cite this Entry
“Obstruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstruct. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obstruct
verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt
äb-
1
: to close up by an obstacle
a fallen tree obstructed the roadway
2
: to be or get in the way of : hinder
lying to the police obstructs justice
Medical Definition
obstruct
transitive verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt, äb-
: to block or close up by an obstacle
veins obstructed by clots
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