obviate

American  

[ob-vee-eyt] / ˈɒb viˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

• obviates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• obviated,
  past participle,  past
• obviating
  present participle

1. to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary.

   to obviate the risk of serious injury.

   Synonyms:

   anticipate, avert, preclude

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obviate British  

/ ˈɒbvɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to avoid or prevent (a need or difficulty)

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Usage

Only things that have not yet occurred can be obviated. For example, one can obviate a possible future difficulty, but not one that already exists

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• obviation
  noun
• obviator
  noun
• preobviate
  verb (used with object)
• obviable
  adjective
• unobviable
  adjective
• unobviated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• obviating
  present
• obviated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• obviate
  simple
• obviates
  simple
• have obviated
  perfect
• has obviated
  perfect
• am obviating
  progressive
• are obviating
  progressive
• is obviating
  progressive
• have been obviating
  perfect progressive
• has been obviating
  perfect progressive

Past

• obviated
  simple
• had obviated
  perfect
• was obviating
  progressive
• were obviating
  progressive
• had been obviating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will obviate
  simple
• will have obviated
  perfect
• will be obviating
  progressive
• will have been obviating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of obviate

1590–1600; from Latin obviātus, past participle of obviāre “to act contrary to,” derivative of obvius; see obvious, -ate ¹

Explanation

To obviate means to eliminate the need for something or to prevent something from happening. If you want to obviate the possibility of a roach infestation, clean your kitchen regularly. The prefix ob means "to go against." That makes sense when you look at the words obstruct and obstacle, but how about obstetrics? Why does the name of the branch of medicine dealing with birth have the same root as words that mean "stop" or "get in the way"? Because a midwife stands opposite to, or against, the woman giving birth.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

obviate obviates obviated obviating

“I’m here to obviate sensor fusion,” Ouster CEO Angus Pacala tells Barron’s.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

This will obviate the need to travel to entertainment venues and make access economical and on-demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026

Strategy already set aside a $1.4 billion reserve for dividend and interest payments over the next two years to obviate the need to sell bitcoins in the near future.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 4, 2025

They also obviate the emotional component of investing, which so often can lead ordinary investors astray.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2025

“Some would contend that this confession would obviate the need for a lengthy trial,” she said in a cold, heartless voice that made Finn miss the real Ms. Morales.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

So this basically obviates the need for everybody to own their own vehicle.

From Salon ● Nov. 9, 2023

The telephone obviates the use of a bullhorn, with a soldier standing south of the border, reading out a message to the North Korean side.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 24, 2023

The XPS 17’s spacious 16:10 17-inch screen nearly obviates the need to use an external monitor.

From The Verge ● Feb. 2, 2022

But perhaps the face mask obviates all of that.

From New York Times ● Jun. 10, 2020

It will here be observed that using the dogs obviates the necessity for parallel pieces, when the work has projections at the back face as shown in the cut.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Joshua Rose

That history, the majority found, obviated the need for the preclearance system.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2023

“Couldn’t you have solved this problem or precluded this, obviated this problem by obtaining a general release in your settlement?” he asked.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 18, 2023

Pressman acknowledged that the strong leadership team that was already in place when Ritchie left obviated the need for an interim artistic director.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2022

Mike Smith has obviated those concerns down the stretch, with the 40-year-old winning nine of his final 10 games and looking quite sharp.

From Seattle Times ● May 1, 2022

This disadvantage, it is true, may be obviated more or less by using a field throughout of the same polarity, but then one encounters difficulties of a different nature.

From The inventions, researches and writings of Nikola Tesla With special reference to his work in polyphase currents and high potential lighting by Thomas Commerford Martin

The longer the scene, the more likely it was mostly concocted inside a computer, obviating multiple takes, camera angles and union personnel waiting around to engage in spurts of frenzied action.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

Many of its 94 minutes are occupied with well-mounted car chases, stunts and gunfights, obviating the need for character development, past the traditional foes-become-friends dynamic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2025

For example, NuScale engineers rely on convection to drive cooling water through the core of each SMR, obviating the need for expensive pumps.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 10, 2023

In the process, they may have taken a step toward altogether obviating the need for booster shots to fight new strains as they evolve.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2022

A gibbous moon rose above the shoulder of 27,824-foot Makalu, washing the slope beneath my boots in ghostly light, obviating the need for a headlamp.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• counteract
• forestall
• preclude