encounter obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

"encounter obstacle" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation in which someone has encountered an obstacle. For example, "Jane was excited to explore her new city, but she encountered obstacle after obstacle that seemed to stand in her way."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Once the burglars make it into the house, they encounter obstacle after obstacle, and the lovers, not aware of the burglars' presence, argue.

Wikipedia

Our results show that limbs contralateral to the striatal lesion badly perform obstacle crossing from day 4 to 60 post-lesion in the situation in which the contralesional limb is the first to encounter obstacle.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Many young people encounter obstacles when it comes to getting information.

The New York Times

Few blacks enter biomedical research, and those who do often encounter obstacles in their career paths.

The New York Times - Science

Mr. Lyubarev said Golos was also concerned about the possibility that independent candidates would encounter obstacles to registering their candidacies.

The New York Times

And citizens with disabilities or limited proficiency in English can encounter obstacles to the exercise of their democratic rights".

The New York Times

Ultimately, the experts say, all detectors are likely to encounter obstacles imposed by the laws of physics.

The New York Times

Rather, research suggests that poor children encounter obstacles that often adversely affect their development and learning outcomes.

The Washington Post

Her search shouldn't encounter obstacles, especially when it's inspired by the work, by the thought, of other women.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Throughout the game, you encounter obstacles that can only be conquered through the power of the mind.

The New York Times - Tech

"The real skills students need to gain in college are about how to bounce back when they encounter obstacles, reevaluate their plan, and evolve.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "encounter obstacle" is grammatically sound, consider using the plural form "encounter obstacles" for broader applicability. For example, "Projects often encounter obstacles that require creative solutions" sounds more natural than the singular.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who is doing the encountering. Instead of "An obstacle was encountered", write "The team encountered an obstacle". Active voice makes the sentence more direct and clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encounter obstacle" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "encounter" acts as the verb and "obstacle" as its direct object. This structure describes the action of coming across or facing a challenge. Ludwig's analysis confirms its usability in describing situations where someone faces an obstacle.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "encounter obstacle" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the experience of facing a challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, although it's less common than the plural form "encounter obstacles". The phrase has a neutral register and is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While other options like "face a challenge" or "meet with a difficulty" are available, "encounter obstacle" provides a direct and clear way to express the idea of confronting a hindrance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet an obstruction

Replacing "encounter" with "meet" and "obstacle" with "obstruction" creates a slightly more formal and direct tone.

face an impediment

This alternative replaces "encounter" with "face" and "obstacle" with "impediment", offering a slightly more formal tone.

meet with a difficulty

This phrase uses "meet with" instead of "encounter" and "difficulty" as a substitute for "obstacle", providing a more general expression of encountering problems.

come up against a barrier

Here, "come up against" replaces "encounter" and "barrier" substitutes for "obstacle", suggesting a physical or metaphorical obstruction.

run into a problem

This alternative employs "run into" in place of "encounter" and "problem" instead of "obstacle", resulting in a more casual phrasing.

face a challenge

This option simplifies the phrase by using "face" instead of "encounter" and "challenge" as a broader term for "obstacle".

hit a snag

This phrase replaces "encounter obstacle" with the idiom "hit a snag", indicating a sudden, unexpected difficulty.

experience a setback

This alternative replaces "encounter obstacle" with "experience a setback", focusing on the negative impact of the obstacle.

be confronted with a hurdle

This phrase uses "be confronted with" instead of "encounter" and "hurdle" instead of "obstacle", suggesting something to overcome.

find a stumbling block

This alternative replaces "encounter obstacle" with "find a stumbling block", implying a hindrance that causes one to hesitate or fail.

FAQs

Is it more common to say "encounter obstacle" or "encounter obstacles"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "encounter obstacles" is more frequently used, as it is more common to face multiple challenges rather than a single one. Consider using "encounter obstacles" for broader applicability.

What verbs can I use instead of "encounter" when describing challenges?

Alternatives to "encounter" include "face", "meet", "confront", "run into", and "come up against". For example, instead of "encounter obstacle", you could say "face a challenge".

Which is correct, "encounter obstacle" or "encountered obstacle"?

"Encounter obstacle" is used in the present tense, describing a general or habitual action. "Encountered obstacle" is in the past tense, describing an action that has already happened.

What are some formal synonyms for "obstacle"?

Formal synonyms for "obstacle" include "impediment", "hindrance", "obstruction", and "barrier". You might say "encounter an impediment" in a formal context.