Obvious is an adjective describing something readily perceived or understood; it indicates that evidence or clarity makes a conclusion or fact unmistakable. The term implies little or no ambiguity, often highlighting ease of recognition or comprehension in a situation, argument, or feature.
- US: rhotic, pronounced /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker; keep /r/ non-existent in the word so silent in most US accents. Vowel merging can lead to a longer first vowel; emphasize /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ before /b/. - UK: non-rhotic; /ɒ/ in the first syllable is shorter; keep /v/ as a soft labiodental fricative; /ə/ rarely reduces the final; - AU: variable vowel shift toward /ɒ/ or /ɔː/; maintain /ɒ/ and /v/ clarity; final /ə/ is often reduced. IPA references: US /ˈɑːbviəs/, UK /ˈɒbviəs/, AU /ˈɒːbviəs/ depending on region.
"Her disappointment was obvious to everyone in the room."
"The solution was obvious once the data was laid out clearly."
"It's obvious you’ve put a lot of effort into this project."
"The advertising claim is obvious and makes the product seem essential."
Obvious comes from the Latin obviousus, from ob- ‘in the way, toward’ + via ‘way, road’ metaphorically suggesting that something lies in the way of perception. The earliest senses in Latin described something laid bare or evident by virtue of being in front of you. In English, obvious emerged in the 17th century through French influence (obvious), eventually taking on its modern sense of being easily perceived or understood. The shift from “in the way” or “standing in front of” to “clearly perceived” reflects a broadening from physical visibility to cognitive transparency. Over time, usage expanded to describe facts, features, or arguments that require little commentary because their truth or presence is self-evident. The word has maintained a consistent core sense of clarity and conspicuousness, though it is often used more colloquially in contemporary speech and writing than in formal prose. Modern variants can imply both strong self-evidence and mild overstatement, depending on prosody and context. First known use in English traces to the 16th–17th centuries with the sense evolving as scholars and writers popularized Latin-derived terms in academic and everyday discourse, aligning with a period of rapid expansion in English vocabulary borrowed from Romance languages.
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Words that rhyme with "Obvious"
-ous sounds
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Obvious is pronounced /ˈɒbviəs/ in UK English and /ˈɑːbviəs/ in US English, with three syllables: OB-vee-us. The stress falls on the first syllable: OB-vee-us. In connected speech, the second and third syllables can merge slightly, but keep the /vi/ sound clear. Mouth position: start with an open back rounded vowel for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/, then a bright /v/ plus /i/ vowel, and end with a relaxed /əs/ or /əs/ with a light schwa. If you articulate slowly, you’ll hear OB-vee-us; in fast speech, it can sound like OB-vee-əs.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the second syllable so /vi/ blends with the first vowel; keep /vi/ distinct. (2) Dropping the final /əs/ making it /ˈɒbviː/ or /ˈɒbviə/; maintain the final schwa with a light /s/. (3) Misplacing stress as OB-vi-us or o-BV-i-ous; ensure primary stress on the first syllable. Corrections: practice with isolated syllables OB-vi-ous, then three-phoneme blocks OB- /vi/ /əs/, and finally full word in sentences. Use slow tempo to reinforce the /v/ and the final /əs/.
US: /ˈɑːbviəs/ with rhoticity; clear /ˈɑːbviəs/. UK: /ˈɒbviəs/ with shorter /ɒ/ and sometimes less rounded lips; AU: /ˈɒbviəs/ or /ˈɔːbviəs/ depending on regional variation; still three syllables and strong first-stress. Across all, the /v/ remains clearly voiced, final /əs/ is reduced. Note vowel quality differences: US tends to a broader /ɒ/ or /ɑː/; UK commonly uses /ɒ/; AU often closer to /ɒ/ but may shift blends. Practice listening to native speakers for subtle differences.
Key challenges: (1) The three-syllable structure can tempt reducing to two syllables; keep OB-vi-us for clarity. (2) The mid /vi/ requires a precise /v/ fricative followed by a tense /i/; avoid reducing to /viə/ or /vi/ alone. (3) Final /əs/ involves a weak schwa and a voiceless /s/; practice by ending with a gentle /s/ rather than a clipped consonant. Observing mouth position in forward-facing vowels helps keep the energy in the middle and end of the word.
Yes—its stress pattern and the sequence /bvi/ can be tricky: the vowel /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ in the first syllable is open and then immediately a voiced consonant /b/ followed by a high front vowel /i/; the transition requires precise lip rounding and tongue position to avoid /ɒbviəs/ becoming /ˈɒbvjəs/ or /ˈɒbvɪəs/. Focus on sustaining the /i/ and articulating the /s/ at the end with a soft release.
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