How to spell obstruct

hear itob·struct/əb'strəkt/verbSchwa and roots

What it means: To block or impede.

In a sentence: The fallen tree went right across the road to obstruct the cars.

The part people get wrong

Often misspelled as obstruck or obstrct.

Same family: obstruction, obstructive, construct, structure, destruct. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: “Obstruct” comes from Latin roots: ob- meaning “against” and structus meaning “built.” It literally suggests something “built against” the way, which nicely matches the idea of blocking a path or progress.

Try spelling it

You will hear the word and a sentence. Type it and press Enter. Then four more words from the same level, so you know where you stand.

Words like this

instruct · construct · verdict · destruction · contradict

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