# obviate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɒb.viˌeɪt/ · frequency rank #83,572

## Definitions
1. To anticipate and prevent or bypass (something which would otherwise have been necessary or required); to render (something) unnecessary.
2. To avoid (a future problem or difficult situation).

## Etymology
First attested in 1567; borrowed from Latin obviātus, perfect passive participle of obviō (“to block, to hinder”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/obviate