face an obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

"face an obstacle" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to an instance in which someone has to confront a challenge or difficulty. For example: "The students faced an obstacle when they had to present their project for the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But try to find the door, and you face an obstacle: there isn't one, at least not one you can easily get to.

The New York Times

B1 PLAN FOR LOWER MANHATTAN -- A plan to rebuild the equivalent of 12 Empire State Buildings in Lower Manhattan may face an obstacle in finding commercial tenants.

The New York Times

The few that face an obstacle with their school, one would hope, would be able to come to an amicable resolution where both parties are happy.

The Guardian - Opinion

As with home runs and hitting streaks, players today face an obstacle Williams didn't in 1941, at least not in quantity.

The New York Times - Sports

Financial institutions face an obstacle in the form of the Indian Act, the law governing native communities and their relations with outsiders.

The New York Times

Now, it looks as though he may also face an obstacle from an unexpected quarter: the United States.On September 24th, Mr Pastrana was in Washington, hoping to win support for his peace initiative, the centrepiece of his agenda.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

She faces an obstacle.

The Guardian - Books

But when he finally made it to South Korea, and freedom, Mr. Kim faced an obstacle that even his considerable street smarts could not help him overcome.

The New York Times

But Ms. Wang, considered to be the richest woman in Asia and a flamboyant figure who wore her hair in pigtails well into her 60s, faced an obstacle: Foreigners were barred from holding stakes in Chinese financial institutions.

The New York Times

Is he facing an obstacle course?

Forbes

Case 1 is the free swimming mode permits to go straight forward until it faces an obstacle.

Measurement

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "face an obstacle" when describing a situation where someone is actively aware of and potentially confronting a difficulty, not just passively experiencing it.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences in a way that obscures who is "facing" the obstacle. The active voice is more direct and impactful. For example, prefer "The company faced an obstacle" over "An obstacle was faced by the company".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face an obstacle" functions as a verbal phrase, where "face" is the verb and "an obstacle" is the direct object. It describes the action of encountering a difficulty or challenge. Ludwig AI examples show its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "face an obstacle" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe encountering a difficulty or challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various written contexts. While relatively common, it's important to use it with specificity to enhance clarity. Alternatives include "encounter a hurdle" and "confront a challenge", each carrying slightly different nuances. When writing, avoid the passive voice to maintain a direct and impactful tone. This phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science sources, reflecting its versatility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter a hurdle

Emphasizes the act of unexpectedly meeting a difficulty.

confront a challenge

Highlights a direct and often proactive engagement with a difficult task.

meet with adversity

Focuses on encountering unfavorable circumstances or misfortune.

run into difficulty

Suggests a less formal, often unexpected, encounter with problems.

experience a setback

Indicates a temporary impediment or reversal in progress.

be up against a barrier

Highlights the presence of a significant impediment preventing progress.

grapple with an impediment

Implies struggling to overcome something that hinders progress.

contend with a problem

Suggests dealing or struggling with an issue that presents difficulties.

tackle a stumbling block

Implies addressing or overcoming something that causes hesitation or mistakes.

navigate a difficulty

Focuses on skillfully maneuvering through a challenging situation.

FAQs

How can I use "face an obstacle" in a sentence?

You can use "face an obstacle" to describe a situation where someone encounters and must deal with a challenge or difficulty. For example: "The project "faced an obstacle" when funding was cut".

What are some alternatives to saying "face an obstacle"?

Alternatives include phrases like "encounter a hurdle", "confront a challenge", or "run into difficulty", each with slightly different connotations.

Is it better to say "face an obstacle" or "overcome an obstacle"?

The choice depends on the context. "Face an obstacle" describes the initial encounter with a difficulty, while "overcome an obstacle" describes successfully resolving or surpassing that difficulty.

What's the difference between "face an obstacle" and "face a problem"?

While similar, "face a problem" is a broader term. "Face an obstacle" often implies a more concrete and tangible impediment that needs to be addressed.