ob´vi|ous|ly

ob|vi|ous «OB vee uhs», adjective.

1. easily seen or understood; clear to the eye or mind; not to be doubted; plain: »

It is obvious that two and two make four. It is obvious that a blind man ought not to drive an automobile. The frail child was in obvious need of food and sunshine.

2. Obsolete. being or standing in the way; fronting.

3. Obsolete. exposed or open (to): »

The pedant is…obvious to ridicule (Sir Richard Steele).

╂[< Latin obvius (with English -ous) < obviam in the way < ob across + via way]

–ob´vi|ous|ly, adverb.

–ob´vi|ous|ness, noun.

Synonym Study 1 Obvious, apparent, evident mean plain to see, easy to understand. Obvious suggests standing out so prominently that the eye or mind cannot miss it: »

His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing up.

Apparent means plainly to be seen as soon as one looks (with eye or mind) toward it: »

A dent in the fender is apparent.

Evident means plainly to be seen because all the apparent facts point to it: »

When he did not drive the car home, it was evident that he had had an accident.