Cool MateIn plain sight vs Obvious
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
In plain sight
Top 3,000 (common)
Obvious
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Most common: Obvious
| In plain sight | Obvious | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪn pleɪn saɪt//🇺🇸 //ɪn pleɪn saɪt// | 🇬🇧 //ˈɒbvɪəs//🇺🇸 //ˈɑːbvɪəs// |
| Meaning | Visible and easily seen | Easy to see or understand |
| Example | The treasure was hidden in plain sight, right under their noses. | It's obvious that she is very talented. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | hide in plain sight, kept in plain sight, found in plain sight | obvious choice, obvious answer, obvious conclusion |
| Antonyms | - | hidden, ambiguous, unclear |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'out of sight', which means not visible., Using it to describe something not actually visible., Misplacing it in sentences requiring a more complex structure. | Confusing with 'oblivious', which means unaware., Using 'obvious' with negative sentences incorrectly, e.g., 'It's not obvious that he is late.', Overusing in formal writing, where 'clear' may be more suitable. |
| Usage notes | Used when something is clearly visible. Common in everyday conversation but also can be used in more formal contexts. | Use 'obvious' to indicate something that doesn't need explanation. It's neutral and fits in various contexts, but avoid it in overly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: In plain sight vs Obvious
What's the difference between In plain sight and Obvious?
In plain sight: Visible and easily seen Obvious: Easy to see or understand
Which is more common: In plain sight and Obvious?
Obvious is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
In plain sight: The treasure was hidden in plain sight, right under their noses. Obvious: It's obvious that she is very talented.
Can I use In plain sight and Obvious interchangeably?
Not always. In plain sight and Obvious are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.