obvidable
To make something unnecessary or to remove a problem before it happens.
Explanation at your level:
This is a hard word. It means to stop a problem before it starts. If you have a raincoat, you do not need an umbrella. The coat obviates the need for the umbrella. It is a very smart way to say 'we don't need this anymore because we fixed it.'
When you have a plan to stop a problem, you obviate it. For example, if you study early, you obviate the need to stay up all night before the test. It is a formal word used by adults in school or work.
Obviate is a formal verb that means to make an action unnecessary. If you buy a ticket online, you obviate the need to wait in a long line at the cinema. It is very common in professional emails or reports where you want to show you are organized.
In B2 level English, you use obviate to describe efficiency. It suggests that a specific action or change has removed a future requirement. It is often paired with 'the need for.' For example: 'The new software update obviates the need for manual data entry.'
At the C1 level, you recognize that obviate carries a nuance of foresight and strategic planning. It is not just about stopping a problem; it is about rendering a future requirement obsolete. It is frequently used in academic writing when justifying a methodological change or a policy shift.
Mastering obviate allows you to express complex causal relationships with precision. It implies that the subject has successfully anticipated a potential obstacle or redundant process. In literary or high-level intellectual discourse, it is used to describe how one event or condition effectively neutralizes the potential for another. It is a hallmark of concise, high-register English that avoids wordiness.
30초 단어
- Formal verb meaning to prevent.
- Makes a need or problem redundant.
- Used in academic and business contexts.
- Rhymes with alleviate.
Have you ever fixed a problem before it actually became a problem? That is exactly what it means to obviate. When you use this word, you are describing a situation where a proactive step makes an extra effort or a potential obstacle disappear entirely.
Think of it as prevention in action. If you bring an umbrella because you see dark clouds, you obviate the need to run for cover later. It is a very useful, formal term that helps you sound precise when discussing logistics, planning, or problem-solving.
The word obviate comes directly from the Latin word obviare, which means 'to meet in the way.' It is formed from ob- (meaning 'against') and via (meaning 'way').
Historically, it literally meant to meet someone or something on the road. Over time, the meaning shifted from just 'meeting' to 'meeting and blocking' or 'getting in the way of' a problem. By the 17th century, it settled into its current English meaning: removing an obstacle by being in its path before it can cause trouble.
You will mostly hear obviate in formal, academic, or professional settings. It is rarely used in casual conversation because it sounds quite sophisticated. People often use it in business reports or legal documents to explain why a certain step was skipped.
Common collocations include obviate the need, obviate the necessity, or obviate the risk. Because it implies a high level of foresight, it is a great word to use when you want to highlight that you are being efficient and strategic.
While obviate is a specific verb, it shares meaning with several idioms. 1. Nip in the bud: Stopping a problem early. 2. Head off at the pass: Preventing something from arriving. 3. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: A classic saying about the wisdom of obviating issues. 4. Cut off at the source: Stopping the root cause. 5. Clear the air: Removing tension before it becomes a fight.
Obviate is a regular verb. Its forms are obviates, obviated, and obviating. It is almost always a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—usually the 'need' or 'problem' being removed.
Pronunciation: In British English, it is ˈɒb.vi.eɪt. In American English, it is ˈɑːb.vi.eɪt. It rhymes with 'deviate' and 'alleviate.' The stress is firmly on the first syllable.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'via' (road), like 'viaduct'.
Pronunciation Guide
Ob-vee-ate
Ahb-vee-ate
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'obvious'
- Stressing the wrong syllable
- Adding an extra 'i' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Formal vocabulary
Advanced usage
Rarely used
Academic
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He obviated the need.
Formal Register
Obviate vs Stop.
Suffix -ate
Obviate/Deviate.
Examples by Level
The new door obviates the need for a key.
The door makes the key not needed.
Verb + object.
This tool obviates the need for manual work.
A map obviates the need to ask for directions.
The umbrella obviates the need for a hat.
A good plan obviates many problems.
The update obviates the old rules.
The fence obviates the risk of falling.
The sign obviates the need to guess.
The light obviates the darkness.
The new system obviates the need for paper files.
His early arrival obviated the need to wait.
The vaccine obviates the risk of infection.
A quick reply obviates further questions.
The strategy obviates potential conflicts.
The law obviates the need for negotiation.
Proper training obviates common errors.
The bridge obviates the need for a ferry.
The automated process obviates the need for human oversight.
The new policy obviates the necessity for daily meetings.
His intervention obviated a major disaster.
This device obviates the need for batteries.
The contract obviates any future legal disputes.
The design obviates the requirement for extra support.
The solution obviates the problem entirely.
The agreement obviates the need for further debate.
The sheer efficiency of the system obviates the need for constant maintenance.
The recent legislation effectively obviates the ambiguity of the previous law.
His thorough preparation obviated the need for last-minute changes.
The inclusion of a backup generator obviates the danger of power failure.
The new software update obviates the necessity of manual patching.
The treaty was designed to obviate the risk of regional conflict.
The simplified process obviates the need for specialized training.
The presence of a guard obviates the need for an alarm.
The implementation of the new protocol obviates the necessity for redundant administrative oversight.
By addressing the root cause, the engineer obviated the potential for systemic failure.
The architect's innovative design obviates the need for unsightly structural supports.
The diplomat's timely intervention obviated the need for further military escalation.
The integration of these features obviates the requirement for third-party plugins.
The clear guidelines obviate the possibility of misinterpretation.
The technological advancement obviates the constraints of traditional manufacturing.
The proactive measure successfully obviated the looming financial crisis.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"nip in the bud"
Stop early.
We nipped the problem in the bud.
casual"head off"
Intercept.
We headed off the disaster.
neutral"clear the way"
Make easier.
This clears the way for success.
neutral"smooth the path"
Remove obstacles.
He smoothed the path for us.
neutral"cut the Gordian knot"
Solve a hard problem.
He cut the knot with a simple fix.
literary"take the sting out"
Make less painful.
This takes the sting out of the loss.
casualEasily Confused
similar spelling
obvious is an adjective, obviate is a verb
The answer is obvious; it obviates the need for research.
rhymes
deviate means to stray, obviate means to prevent
Do not deviate from the plan.
rhymes
alleviate means to reduce pain, obviate means to remove a need
This alleviates the pain.
rhymes
abbreviate means to shorten, obviate means to prevent
Abbreviate your essay.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + obviates + the + need + for + noun
This obviates the need for help.
Subject + obviates + the + risk + of + gerund
This obviates the risk of failing.
Subject + effectively + obviates + noun
It effectively obviates the problem.
Subject + was + obviated + by + noun
The need was obviated by the new rule.
To + obviate + noun + is + adjective
To obviate the need is wise.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
4
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Obviate usually acts on things or needs, not people.
Obvious means clear; obviate means to prevent.
It is a transitive verb, no preposition needed.
Obviate means to prevent/remove, not to explain.
It sounds too formal for daily chat.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a road (via) and you are blocking (ob) the trouble.
Native Speakers
Used in reports to explain why a step was skipped.
Cultural Insight
Used by lawyers and scientists.
Grammar Shortcut
Always followed by 'the need for'.
Say It Right
Ob-vee-ate.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse with 'obvious'.
Did You Know?
It comes from the Latin for 'road'.
Study Smart
Use it in a professional email.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
OB-VI-ATE: OBstacles VIa (the road) ATE (eaten/removed).
Visual Association
A road worker removing a boulder from the road.
Word Web
챌린지
Write one sentence using 'obviate' for a work task.
어원
Latin
Original meaning: To meet in the way
문화적 맥락
None.
Common in legal and academic writing.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- obviates the need for meetings
- obviates the requirement for reports
in law
- obviates the necessity of a trial
- obviates the claim
in science
- obviates the need for manual testing
- obviates potential errors
in planning
- obviates future risks
- obviates the need for backups
Conversation Starters
"What is one thing that could obviate the need for a car?"
"Can technology obviate the need for teachers?"
"How does a good schedule obviate stress?"
"What steps can we take to obviate climate change?"
"Does modern medicine obviate the need for rest?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you obviated a problem.
What is something you wish you could obviate in your daily life?
Is it always good to obviate risks?
Write about a tool that obviates a difficult task.
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문No, it is formal.
Better to use 'prevent'.
No, that is a common error.
Yes.
Obviation.
No, usually for things.
Yes, it implies efficiency.
Both.
셀프 테스트
The new gate ___ the need for a lock.
It prevents the need.
What does 'obviate' mean?
It means to remove a need.
Obviate is a synonym for 'obvious'.
They are different parts of speech and meanings.
Word
뜻
Synonym/Antonym match.
Subject-verb-object structure.
점수: /5
Summary
To obviate is to fix a problem before it happens, making future effort unnecessary.
- Formal verb meaning to prevent.
- Makes a need or problem redundant.
- Used in academic and business contexts.
- Rhymes with alleviate.
Memory Palace
Imagine a road (via) and you are blocking (ob) the trouble.
Native Speakers
Used in reports to explain why a step was skipped.
Cultural Insight
Used by lawyers and scientists.
Grammar Shortcut
Always followed by 'the need for'.
예시
Installing a smart thermostat can obviate the need to manually adjust the temperature throughout the day.
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