obvious

IPA/ˈɒbviəs/
KK[ˈɑbviəs]IPA/ˈɑːbviəs/

obvious — adjective

  • obviouspositive
  • more obviouscomparative
  • most obvioussuperlative

1. so clear that anyone can see, notice, or work out the truth without needing extr

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

so clear that anyone can see, notice, or work out the truth without needing extra explanation or proof.

Example

It was obvious to Maya that her brother had been crying in his room.

it is obvious to sb that-clause

From the smile on Carlos's face, the answer to her question was obvious.

obvious from sth

Common collocations
  • painfully obvious
  • blindingly obvious
  • fairly obvious
  • obvious answer
  • obvious choice
  • obvious mistake
  • become obvious
Synonyms
  • clear

    very close in meaning; slightly more neutral and works in formal writing.

  • evident

    more formal; common in academic or news writing.

  • apparent

    suggests something seems true based on what you can see, sometimes hinting it could turn out otherwise.

  • plain

    informal and emphatic, often as 'plain to see'.

Antonyms
  • unclear

    general opposite when something is hard to understand.

  • subtle

    describes something present but not easy to notice.

  • hidden

    stronger opposite, suggesting deliberate concealment.

Grammar Patterns

it is obvious (to sb) that ...

be obvious from sth

Usage Note

Frequently followed by a that-clause or 'to + person' to name who can see it; the dummy subject 'it' is the most common pattern ('it is obvious that ...'). Common intensifiers are 'painfully', 'pretty', and 'fairly'.

Common Mistakes

It is obvious for me that she is tired.
It is obvious to me that she is tired.
use 'to', not 'for', when naming the person who can see it.
The mistake was obvious me.
The mistake was obvious to me.
never drop the preposition 'to' before the person.

2. being the option, person, or idea that almost everyone would think of first beca

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

being the option, person, or idea that almost everyone would think of first because it is the most expected one — sometimes used with a hint that it lacks imagination.

Example

Marcus was the obvious choice for team captain after leading the school to two championships.

the obvious choice for sth

The detective thought the husband was the obvious suspect, so she started looking elsewhere.

the obvious suspect / candidate

Common collocations
  • the obvious choice
  • the obvious answer
  • the obvious suspect
  • the obvious candidate
  • too obvious
Synonyms
  • predictable

    stresses that you could guess it in advance; can be slightly negative.

  • natural

    softer; suggests the choice fits the situation well.

  • logical

    stresses that reasoning leads to this option.

Antonyms
  • surprising

    the choice nobody expected.

  • unlikely

    stresses low probability rather than mere unexpectedness.

Grammar Patterns

the obvious choice / answer / suspect

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is usually attributive in 'the obvious + noun' (choice, suspect, answer) and labels something as the most expected pick. With 'too obvious' it can carry a mild criticism that the idea is unoriginal.

Common Mistakes

She was an obvious for the job.
She was the obvious choice for the job.
'obvious' is an adjective, so keep a noun like 'choice', 'pick', or 'candidate' after it.
Idioms

state the obvious

idiom

to say something that everyone already knows, often unnecessarily.

I know I'm stating the obvious, but we really need to leave for the airport now.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe something that is easy to notice or understand, but they sit on different points of formality and certainty. 'Obvious' is the everyday word and often suggests the truth almost jumps out at you; learners can use it freely in speech and writing. 'Clear' is the most neutral and the safest pick when you simply want to say nothing is hidden ('it is clear that we need more time'). 'Evident' and 'apparent' both belong to more formal or written contexts: 'evident' implies the speaker has noticed firm signs ('her relief was evident'), while 'apparent' often hints that things look that way but might not be the full story ('her apparent confidence hid real fear'). 'Plain' is blunt and often emotional, as in 'it is plain to see'. So a tip: in a friendly chat, say 'obvious' or 'clear'; in an essay, lean on 'evident' or 'apparent'.

obvious ↗clear ↗evident ↗apparent ↗plain ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • obvious answer
  • obvious choice
  • obvious mistake
  • obvious solution
  • obvious reason
  • obvious suspect

Adverbs

  • painfully obvious
  • blindingly obvious
  • fairly obvious
  • pretty obvious
  • immediately obvious
  • all too obvious

Phrases

Prepositions

  • obvious to (someone)
  • obvious from (something)

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Borrowed into English in the late 1500s from Latin 'obvius', meaning 'in the way' or 'lying in front of you'. The Latin word combines 'ob-' (against, towards) with 'via' (way, road), giving the literal picture of something you meet on the road. The early English meaning was 'standing in the way' too, but by the 1600s the figurative sense — easy to see or notice — had taken over and is the only meaning learners need today.