ob ‧ vi ‧ ate /ˈɒbvieɪt $ ˈɑːb-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: past participle of obviare 'to meet, be unharmed by' , from Latin obviam 'in the way' ]
formal to prevent or avoid a problem or the need to do something SYN eliminate :
The new treatment obviates the need for surgery.