adjective

obscure

uhb-SKYOOR

adjective

Not well known.

"The film is based on an obscure Victorian novel."

Difficult to understand or make out clearly.

"The instructions were written in obscure legal jargon."

verb

To hide or make something difficult to see or understand.

"Thick fog obscured the view of the mountains."

How to Use Obscure

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither little-known, or hard to see/understand clearly, or (as a verb) to hide something.

Common pairings

obscure reference obscure the view remain obscure

obscurer comparative, more obscure comparative, obscured past tense, obscures singular, obscurest superlative, most obscure superlative

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The film is based on an _____ Victorian novel.

From Latin obscurus, "dark, dusky, indistinct."

pure cure sure lure Kure azure nature future manure secure impure injure