ˈäbvēəs in rapid speech often ˈävē- adjective
Etymology: Latin obvius, from obviam in the way, towards, about to, from ob to, before, against + viam, accusative of via way, road — more at epi- , via
1.
a. obsolete : presenting itself in the way : occurring often
b. archaic : being in the way or to the front : opposite , fronting
c. : so placed as to be easily or inevitably perceived or noticed
an obvious light switch
2. archaic : liable or exposed to some effect (as injury or mockery) : open , subject
3. : capable of easy perception:
a. : readily perceived by the senses : hard not to perceive, sense, or grasp
the invisible as opposed to the obvious — M.R.Cohen
b. : readily and easily perceived by the sensibilities or mind : requiring very little insight or reflection to perceive, recognize, or comprehend
all was taken in at a glance; the fell purpose … was obvious — Herman Melville
c. : easily understood : requiring no thought or consideration to understand or analyze : so simple and clear as to be unmistakable
poetry, in fact, whatever else it may or may not be, must be poetry — a sound, if obvious , conclusion — C.D.Lewis
d. : disappointingly simple and easy to discover or interpret : wanting in any challenging or interesting complexity or ingenuity
the devices … are rather too obvious — Henry Adams
Synonyms: see evident