What does obstacle mean?
Word: Obstacle
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Obstacle means something that blocks your way or makes it harder to do something.
Synonyms: barrier, hindrance, block
Antonyms: help, advantage
How do you spell obstacle?
Syllables: ob - sta - cle
Tricky part: The vowel after the t is a, not i, and the word ends in cle. Obsticle and obstacal are the common slips.
Watch out for: obsticle, obstacal, obstical
Memory tip: Picture a road barrier with a big letter A hanging from its middle: the a after the t is the letter that trips people up.
Obstacle in a sentence
Example 1: A fallen tree was the biggest obstacle on our trek to the waterfall.
Example 2: Lack of money was an obstacle, but she still finished her studies.
Example 3: The scouts crawled under nets on the obstacle course.
Fun Fact
Obstacle comes from the Latin obstare, meaning to stand in the way.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) priviledge
b) rythm
c) obstacle
d) neccessary
Show answer
c) obstacle. Rhythm needs an h after the r, privilege has no d, and necessary has one c and a double s.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word: obstacle
a) target
b) shortcut
c) hurdle
d) detour
Show answer
c) hurdle. A hurdle is something in your way, just like an obstacle.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
ltacsboe
a) obstinate
b) observe
c) obsolete
d) obstacle
Show answer
d) obstacle. Every option starts with obs, but only obstacle uses the c, l and a in the jumble.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
obsstacle
a) c
b) t
c) b
d) s
Show answer
d) s. Only one s comes after the ob.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. For a wheelchair user, what would be an obstacle?
a) an automatic door
b) a smooth path
c) a steep flight of stairs
d) a wide ramp
Show answer
c) a steep flight of stairs
2. Which proverb is about getting past obstacles?
a) Where there's a will, there's a way.
b) An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
c) Too many cooks spoil the broth.
d) Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Show answer
a) Where there's a will, there's a way.
