obviate

Advancedzipf 2.11

Pronunciation

/ˈɒbvieɪt/(OB-vee-ayt)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

消除；避免（使某事不再必要）

Definition

To remove or prevent a difficulty or need; to make unnecessary.

Word family

  • obviation/ˌɒbviˈeɪʃən/(n)消除

Collocations

  • obviate the need
  • obviate the problem
  • obviate risk
  • obviate difficulties

Examples

  1. 1.The new software obviates the need for manual data entry. (makes unnecessary)
  2. 2.Early intervention can obviate many potential complications. (prevent)

Synonyms

  • prevent/prɪˈvɛnt/— stop from happening
  • eliminate/ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/— remove entirely
  • preclude/prɪˈkluːd/— make impossible

Etymology

from Latin "obviare" = to meet, to prevent — ob- (against) + via (way) — blocking the way of a problem