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Definition of obviate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

obviate

verb
 
/ˈɒbvieɪt/
 
/ˈɑːbvieɪt/
(formal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they obviate
 
/ˈɒbvieɪt/
 
/ˈɑːbvieɪt/
he / she / it obviates
 
/ˈɒbvieɪts/
 
/ˈɑːbvieɪts/
past simple obviated
 
/ˈɒbvieɪtɪd/
 
/ˈɑːbvieɪtɪd/
past participle obviated
 
/ˈɒbvieɪtɪd/
 
/ˈɑːbvieɪtɪd/
-ing form obviating
 
/ˈɒbvieɪtɪŋ/
 
/ˈɑːbvieɪtɪŋ/
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  1. obviate something to remove a problem or the need for something synonym preclude
    • This new evidence obviates the need for any further enquiries.
    • Disaster was obviated by the opening of the reserve parachute.
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryObviate is used with these nouns as the object:
    • necessity
    • need
    See full entry
    Word Originlate 16th cent.: from late Latin obviat- ‘prevented’, from the verb obviare, based on Latin via ‘way’.
See obviate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee obviate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
trait
noun
 
 
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