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Glite Dictionary
in the way

in the way

519 2.4
Something that stops progress or blocks movement
  • idiom
translation icon : estorbar
  • Fear stands in the way of learning.
  • get in the way
  • stand in the way
  • an obstacle in the way

See, what is in the way is not you.

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Examples

  • But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy.

  • A focus on ensuring public recognition of one's legacy can get in the way of achieving it.

    Academic text (2017)

  • You just got in the way.

    Shooting Stars (2023)

  • Gives you a month without me getting in the way - of all this stuff.

    Last Breath (2025)

  • We are just in the way.

    The Courier (2012)

  • And yet, he could not allow his feelings to get in the way of his duty.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • For example, Attitude Dude can get in the way of students showing what they know and have learned.

    Academic text (2013)

  • I'd probably just get in the way.

    Unfavorable Odds (2022)

  • Looking ahead, we also discuss some of the challenges standing in the way of this convergence.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Fear stood in the way of his progress toward a better job.

Synonyms

in someone's way
vsin the way
18 3.2

Keeping someone from doing something by blocking them or causing problems

is broader and covers any obstruction that prevents movement or progress
in its path
vsin the way
18 1.3

In the way of a moving thing that can hit or damage things

is any obstruction that prevents progress rather than only a physical blockage

Antonyms

to facilitate
  • Formal
187 4.9

To make a task or process easier and help it happen

How Obstructive

impassable
13 5.3
blocking
18 3.4
in the way
519 2.4
hindering
5.9
restrictive
52 4.7
inconvenient
72 4.1

Surface Forms

in the way positive

Morphology

in + the + way

The meaning 'preventing progress or movement' is directly and transparently derived from the spatial composition 'in' (position within) + 'the way' (the route/path), i.e. physically being in the path of movement. This is a straightforward, cross-linguistic spatial metaphor and follows standard English usage, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

In the way comes from the simple image of something standing in the way of a path and physically blocking movement. So, if something is in the way, it 'stops' you or makes it hard to move forward.