observant
Americanadjective
-
quick to notice or perceive; alert.
Watch for traffic and stay observant as you walk, not lost in thought.
- Synonyms:
- perceptive
-
looking at, watching, or regarding attentively; watchful.
Thousands of customers have been warned to be observant against a surge of scam letters claiming to be from the bank.
- Antonyms:
- heedless
-
-
actively following or adhering to a particular religion.
In Holland during the year surveyed, there were more observant Muslims than either observant Catholics or Protestants, but not all Christians combined.
-
careful in following or adhering to a particular law, custom, religious ritual, or the like (often used with of orto ).
He is well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments.
- Synonyms:
- obedient
-
noun
-
a person who follows or adheres to a particular law, custom, religion, etc.
-
Observant. Also Observantine a member of a Franciscan order that follows the strict rule of St. Francis.
adjective
-
paying close attention to detail; watchful or heedful
-
adhering strictly to rituals, ceremonies, laws, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of observant
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from French, present participle of observer “to notice, observe, watch”; see observe
Explanation
If you're observant, you’re paying close attention to the details. If you're really observant, you would notice the little blob of mustard on your boss's jacket and brush it off for him before he goes to his business dinner. Your mother may be so observant that she notices every bit of dust you miss when you vacuum. But if you're so observant that you notice every coin on the sidewalk, you might soon have enough money saved to buy your mom a robo-vac. Observant can also mean that you're careful to follow laws and customs to the letter. If you’re an observant Jew or an observant Catholic, you’re following your religion’s rituals and practices very strictly.
Vocabulary lists containing observant
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shorn of sentimentality, this gentle drama follows a quietly observant fifth-grader who feels the grim shadow of mortality all around her.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
There are secret savings zones tucked inside almost every supermarket — little pockets of abundance that reward the curious, the observant and the mildly nosy.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
"Ravens are so observant of the landscape that they don't step into traps easily," says Loretto.
From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026
The observant will always observe holidays and show up at houses of worship.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
But we’d taken an observant, matter-of-fact eight-year-old to Rome, Moscow, and Accra, and this is what she’d brought back.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
