obviate

Obviate is a transitive verb meaning to remove a need or difficulty or to prevent something from happening by anticipating and eliminating it. It is used when an action makes later problems unnecessary. Common constructions include obviate the need, obviate the risk, or obviate the possibility.

Etymology and history: The word comes from Medieval Latin obviatus, the past participle of obviare, meaning to go in the way or to meet. It derives from ob- meaning toward or against and via meaning way. In English, obviate has been attested since the 16th century.

Usage and nuance: Obviate is typically used in formal or technical writing, policy analyses, engineering, and risk management. It often implies foresight and preemptive design—taking action to remove the necessity for later steps or to avert a problem before it arises. It is distinct from simply avoiding a problem; obviation is about removing the cause or need itself.

Examples: The automatic shut-off feature obviates the risk of overheating. The new process obviates the need for a separate verification step.

Variants and related terms: Obviate is used as obviates (present), obviating (present participle), and obviated (past). Related concepts include prevent, avert, preclude, forestall, and eliminate, though obviate emphasizes removing the underlying need or risk rather than merely dodging a problem.