faced an obstacle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "faced an obstacle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone encounters a challenge or difficulty that hinders progress. Example: "During the project, the team faced an obstacle that delayed their timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

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

But Mr. Almlie, despite a sterling education and years of experience, has faced an obstacle that does not exist in most professions: He is a single pastor, in a field where those doing the hiring overwhelmingly prefer married people and, especially, married men with children.

The New York Times

BANNING CORZINE PROVES PROBLEMATIC  |  The National Futures Association, the self-regulatory group for the futures industry, faced an obstacle in considering a lifetime ban for Jon S. Corzine, the former Democratic senator who ran the now-defunct MF Global: Mr. Corzine isn't a member, DealBook's Ben Protess writes.

The New York Times

As he prepared to shoot his first block of six five-minute bimonthly episodes, he faced an obstacle course of setbacks, from scheduling headaches to dropouts among the cast members, who, like his crew, are working for free and thus tend to disappear when paying jobs turn up.

The New York Times

Essay 2 – Discuss a situation or experience where you faced an obstacle.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

She faces an obstacle.

The Guardian - Books

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

Measurement

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

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "faced an obstacle" to describe a specific instance where someone or something encountered a difficulty that hindered progress. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using the present tense when describing a past event. Ensure the verb "face" is conjugated correctly to "faced" when referring to a completed action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "faced an obstacle" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone or something experienced a challenge or difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in describing situations where progress is hindered.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

24%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Science & Research

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "faced an obstacle" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe encountering a challenge or difficulty. Ludwig AI supports this assessment. While alternatives like "encountered a challenge" or "ran into a problem" exist, "faced an obstacle" maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, academia, and scientific writing. Remember to use the past tense correctly and consider the specific nuance you want to convey when choosing among the alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountered a challenge

This alternative replaces "obstacle" with "challenge", maintaining the sense of difficulty but potentially implying a less severe impediment.

confronted a setback

Using "setback" emphasizes the negative impact on progress or goals.

met with a difficulty

This phrase uses "difficulty" instead of "obstacle", highlighting the problematic nature of the situation.

was up against a hurdle

This alternative introduces the metaphor of a "hurdle", implying something to be overcome.

ran into a problem

This alternative is more informal, suggesting an unexpected issue arose.

contended with an issue

This alternative highlights the need to address or resolve the difficulty.

grappled with an impediment

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the hindering nature of the obstacle.

surmounted an obstruction

This focuses on successfully overcoming the obstacle.

combated an adversity

This alternative suggests a more significant and persistent struggle.

navigated a predicament

This emphasizes the process of finding a way through a difficult situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "faced an obstacle" to describe a situation where someone encountered a difficulty. For example, "The company "faced an obstacle" when the new regulations were introduced".

What are some alternatives to "faced an obstacle"?

Some alternatives include "encountered a challenge", "met with a difficulty", or "ran into a problem".

Is it correct to say "face an obstacle" instead of "faced an obstacle"?

While "faced an obstacle" refers to a past event, "face an obstacle" refers to a situation that is currently happening or will happen in the future. The correct tense depends on the context.

What's the difference between "faced an obstacle" and "overcame an obstacle"?

"Faced an obstacle" simply means encountering a difficulty, while "overcame an obstacle" implies successfully resolving or surpassing that difficulty. For example, they "faced an obstacle" but successfully "overcame an obstacle" by working together.