ob ‧ scu ‧ ri ‧ ty /əbˈskjʊərəti, əbˈskjʊərɪti $ -ˈskjʊr-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural obscurities )
1 . [uncountable] the state of not being known or remembered
fade/slide/sink etc into obscurity
The group produced two albums before disappearing into obscurity.
live/work/remain etc in obscurity
O'Brien died in obscurity.
from obscurity to something
She rose from obscurity to stardom.
2 . [uncountable and countable] something that is difficult to understand, or the quality of being difficult to understand:
obscurities in the text
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ fade into obscurity (=to gradually be forgotten after being well-known)
The band faded into obscurity as the 1980s progressed.
▪ slide/slip/sink into obscurity (=fade into obscurity)
Many scientific theories are never proved and slip into obscurity.
▪ work/labour/toil in obscurity (=work without being well-known)
After years of working in obscurity, his paintings are now hanging in museums.
▪ languish in obscurity (=to fail to become well-known or successful)
Until recently her talent has languished in obscurity.
▪ rise/emerge from obscurity (=to become well-known after not being known at all)
Harris received coaching and rose from obscurity to stardom.
▪ rescue somebody/something from obscurity (=to stop someone or something from being forgotten)
He was rescued from obscurity by Alder's brilliant biography in 1985.
▪ be plucked from obscurity (=to take someone or something that is not known about and make them well-known)
The actress has been plucked from obscurity to become the new Bond girl.
▪ be relegated/consigned to obscurity (=to be put in the position of being forgotten after being well-known )
Inevitably, many good players are relegated to obscurity.
■ adjectives
▪ relative/comparative obscurity (=not known about compared to other things that are better known)
He brought the team from relative obscurity to fame.
▪ total obscurity
The competition has helped some aspiring writers to emerge from total obscurity.
▪ professional/political obscurity (=not known about in your profession or in politics)
After his defeat, he sank into political obscurity.