Obstruct — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

1. To block a road, passage, or entrance.
2. To block someone’s view.
3. To prevent something from happening or progressing.

Context Alive

After the storm, fallen trees and broken branches were everywhere. A massive trunk had obstructed the main road completely, and cars were lining up for miles. Workers rushed to clear the path before nightfall.

Meanings

3 meanings

1 Block a Road, Passage, or Entrance (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about physically blocking a path so nothing can get through. Imagine a delivery truck parked right in front of your driveway, obstructing the exit so you can’t leave. This is obstructing — blocking the way. You might say “the fallen tree obstructed the entire road,” or protesters could obstruct the entrance to a building. Or picture a pipe in your kitchen that gets obstructed by food, causing the sink to overflow. The word suggests a complete or serious blockage. ✏️ Unlike “block,” obstruct sounds more formal and is often used in official or legal contexts.

Vivid Example

The fire crew arrived within minutes but couldn’t reach the building in time. An illegally parked van had obstructed the narrow street leading to the entrance, costing them precious minutes. The driver was fined immediately.

2 Block Someone's View (Verb) Common ▼

This meaning is about being in front of something so others can’t see it. Imagine sitting in a cinema when someone tall sits right in front of you and obstructs your view of the screen. This is obstructing the view. You might say “the new building obstructs our view of the mountains,” or a pillar could obstruct your view at a concert. Or think about neighbors who plant tall trees that obstruct the sunlight coming into your garden. The word carries a sense of frustration. ✏️ This is very close to “obscure,” but obstruct feels more physical and solid — like a wall, not fog.

Vivid Example

The family had loved their ocean view for twenty years. Then a developer built a tall apartment block that obstructed the entire horizon, replacing blue water with grey concrete. They were heartbroken about the change.

3 Prevent Something from Happening or Progressing (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about stopping progress or creating difficulties. Imagine a witness who lies to police to protect a friend, obstructing the investigation. This is obstructing — deliberately making it harder for things to move forward. You might hear “she was charged with obstructing justice,” or a manager could obstruct a project by refusing to approve the budget. Or picture a politician who obstructs new laws by endlessly delaying the vote. The word suggests intentional interference. ✏️ “Obstruct justice” is a serious legal crime — it means blocking a legal process on purpose.

Vivid Example

The committee had been working on the new policy for months. But one senior member kept obstructing every decision by raising last-minute objections and demanding more reviews. Everyone knew he simply didn’t want the policy to pass.

Examples from the Street

“You’re obstructing my view — can you move over a bit?”

You’re blocking what I can see — can you shift to the side?

“He was charged with obstructing justice.”

He was formally accused of interfering with a legal investigation

“A broken-down lorry was obstructing the road for hours.”

A vehicle that had stopped working was blocking the street so nobody could get through

Common Patterns

obstruct the view/path/road → physically block what someone can see or where they can go

obstruct traffic/passage → prevent vehicles or people from moving through

obstruct the entrance/exit → block the way in or out

be obstructed by [something] → be blocked or prevented by an obstacle

obstruct access to [something] → prevent someone from reaching or using something

obstruct justice → interfere with a legal process (serious legal term)

obstruct an investigation/inquiry → deliberately hinder an official examination

obstruct the process/progress of [something] → slow down or prevent something from moving forward

obstruct efforts to [verb] → get in the way of attempts to do something

obstruct someone from [verb+ing] → prevent a person from doing something

charged with/accused of obstructing → formally blamed for deliberately interfering

Collocations

3 collocations

obstruct justice

interfere with a legal investigation

obstruct the view

block what someone can see

obstruct progress

prevent advancement or development

Example Sentences

12 examples

1

That tall building obstructs the view of the mountains from our balcony

That high-rise blocks what we can see of the hills from our terrace.

2

Protesters were obstructing traffic on the main highway during rush hour

Demonstrators were preventing cars from moving on the busiest road at peak travel time.

3

Please don’t leave your bags here — you’re obstructing the entrance

Please move your things — you’re blocking the way in for other people.

4

The river was obstructed by fallen trees after the storm

The waterway was blocked by timber that had come down during the bad weather.

5

The government was accused of obstructing access to public records

Officials were blamed for preventing people from reaching documents that should be available to everyone.

6

She was charged with obstructing justice after lying to the police

She was formally accused of interfering with the legal process after giving false statements to officers.

7

Several politicians tried to obstruct the investigation into the scandal

A number of lawmakers attempted to hinder the official inquiry into the controversy.

8

Bureaucracy continues to obstruct the progress of the housing project

Red tape keeps slowing down the advancement of the building development.

9

Local residents are obstructing efforts to build a new motorway through their village

People living in the area are getting in the way of plans to construct a major road through their community.

10

The security guard obstructed him from entering the building without a valid ID

The guard at the door stopped him from going inside because he didn’t have proper identification.

Learner Examples

★

Students who constantly talk during class are obstructing the progress of everyone who actually wants to learn

Learners who never stop chatting in lessons are holding back every person in the room who genuinely wants to improve.

★

A lack of confidence can obstruct someone from speaking English freely, even when their grammar is already good enough

Not believing in yourself can prevent a person from using the language naturally, even when their sentence structure is perfectly fine.

Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

0 items

Synonyms & Antonyms

7 items

Synonyms

block

prevent passage

hinder

slow down

impede

get in the way

hamper

make difficult

Antonyms

clear

remove obstacles

facilitate

make easier

assist

help progress