obvious
- 1Easy to discover, see, or understand, and needing no explanation to make sense.
Like a coffee stain on a white shirt: impossible to miss.
The solution to the puzzle became obvious once she turned the page.
His discomfort was obvious from the way he kept glancing at the door.
UsageSomething is obvious to someone; often in it is obvious that + a clause.
Similarclear, evident, apparent, plain, noticeable
- 2So easy to predict or see through that it shows no subtlety or originality.
Critics dismissed the novel's symbolism as heavy-handed and obvious.
His attempts to steer the conversation toward his new business were a little too obvious to fool anyone.
UsageOften after too or so: a plan that is too obvious to fool anyone.
Similarpredictable, transparent, unsubtle
Oppositesubtle
Practice
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Origin
English formed it in the 16th century by adding -ous to Latin obvius ("being in the way so as to meet, easy to access, at hand, ready, obvious"). The Latin word was itself built from ob- ("before") and via ("way").