OBVIATE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does obviate mean? 

• OBVIATE (verb)
  The verb OBVIATE has 2 senses:

1. do away with

2. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

  Familiarity information: OBVIATE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OBVIATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they obviate    ... he / she / it obviates   
Past simple: obviated   
Past participle: obviated   
-ing form: obviating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Do away with

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

eliminate; obviate; rid of

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "obviate"):

close out; preclude; rule out (make impossible, especially beforehand)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Antonym:

necessitate (require as useful, just, or proper)

Derivation:

obviation (the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

avert; avoid; debar; deflect; fend off; forefend; forfend; head off; obviate; stave off; ward off

Context example:

avert a strike

Hypernyms (to "obviate" is one way to...):

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent (keep from happening or arising; make impossible)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

obviation (the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively)

 Context examples 

That will obviate all difficulties you know; and from us I really think, my dear Jane, you can have no scruple to accept such an accommodation.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

In order to obviate any delays possible through any routine requirements as to payment in your departments, we enclose cheque herewith for ten pounds (£10), receipt of which please acknowledge.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A feature of the ICAT approach is that the in vitro incorporation of a stable isotope into one of the two samples being compared obviates the need to analyze by mass spectrometry the control and experimental samples separately.

(Isotope-Coded Affinity Tag Protein Analysis, NCI Thesaurus)

Such had been the parcel with which Miss Crawford was provided, and such the object of her intended visit: and in the kindest manner she now urged Fanny's taking one for the cross and to keep for her sake, saying everything she could think of to obviate the scruples which were making Fanny start back at first with a look of horror at the proposal.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Though with your usual anxiety for our happiness, said Elinor, you have been obviating every impediment to the present scheme which occurred to you, there is still one objection which, in my opinion, cannot be so easily removed.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Should any little accidental disappointment of the appetite occur, such as the spoiling of a meal, the under or the over dressing of a dish, the incident ought not to be neutralised by replacing with something more delicate the comfort lost, thus pampering the body and obviating the aim of this institution; it ought to be improved to the spiritual edification of the pupils, by encouraging them to evince fortitude under temporary privation.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

With spirits, courage, and curiosity up to anything, William expressed an inclination to hunt; and Crawford could mount him without the slightest inconvenience to himself, and with only some scruples to obviate in Sir Thomas, who knew better than his nephew the value of such a loan, and some alarms to reason away in Fanny.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Her fears, he had no courage, no confidence to attempt the removal of:—he listened to them in silent despondence;—but her difficulties were instantly obviated, for with a readiness that seemed to speak the occasion, and the service pre-arranged in his mind, he offered himself as the messenger who should fetch Mrs. Dashwood.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Though Edmund was much more displeased with his aunt than with his mother, as evincing least regard for her niece, he could not help paying more attention to what she said; and at length determined on a method of proceeding which would obviate the risk of his father's thinking he had done too much, and at the same time procure for Fanny the immediate means of exercise, which he could not bear she should be without.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)