the obvious

noun

: something that is easy to understand or recognize
You are stating the obvious. Tell me something I don't already know.
Try to look beyond the obvious.

Examples of the obvious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some don't seem tied to the obvious icon meanings to me, such as a paintbrush for adding photos to the active composer, or a party popper shooting confetti as the icon for opening a side chat. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026 Edge tracking In the experiment with a straight corridor of vinegar about 50 millimeters wide, flowing with the wind, the flies did not do the obvious thing and march up the middle. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026 Medicine is the obvious example because licensure boundaries are clear. — Muhamad Aly Rifai, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 McCarthy and Rodgers have the obvious rapport of winning together as Green Bay Packers. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for the obvious

Browse Nearby Words

theobromine
the obvious
the Occident
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The obvious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20obvious. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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