obstruct
pronunciation
How to pronounce obstruct in British English:
UK [əbˈstrʌkt]
How to pronounce obstruct in American English:
US [əbˈstrʌkt]
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- Verb:
- hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
- block passage through
- shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight
Word Origin
- obstruct
- obstruct: see structure
- obstruct (v.)
- 1610s, a back-formation from obstruction or else from Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere "to block, to stop up" (see obstruction). Related: Obstructed; obstructing.
Example
- 1. He continued his soliloquy on korean reunification and the american plot to obstruct it .
- 2. The opposition voted against the package in both houses , but agreed neither to amend nor obstruct it .
- 3. If foreign regimes believe the us position on rendition is too one-sided , favoring the us , but not them , they could obstruct us efforts to detain terrorism suspects .
- 4. Ideology could not be allowed to obstruct his party 's historic duty to hold office .
- 5. In both europe and america well-connected public-sector unions obstruct progress .