eyewitness

[ahy-wit-nis, ahy-wit-nis, ahy-wit-nis]

noun

1. a person who actually sees some act, occurrence, or thing and can give a firsthand account of it.

   There were two eyewitnesses to the murder.

verb (used with object)

1. to view with one's own eyes.

   to eyewitness a murder.

eyewitness

/ ˈaɪˌwɪtnɪs /

noun

1. 1. a person present at an event who can describe what happened

   2. ( as modifier )

      an eyewitness account

Word History and Origins

Origin of eyewitness¹

First recorded in 1530–40; eye + witness

Example Sentences

It was just after 18:00 on Wednesday when a carriage on Lisbon's famous Gloria funicular came around the bend of a steep cobblestoned street, crashed into a building, and crumpled, an eyewitness said.

From BBC

Local media quoted eyewitnesses as saying a man jokingly proposed marriage to the vendor, and her response was considered blasphemous by some people in the area.

From BBC

He admitted the amount of information he could share was limited, but that he had also "spoken with eyewitnesses and been able to corroborate those reports and establish that they are based in fact".

From BBC

BBC Verify identified the additional strikes by analysing dozens of videos provided by a freelancer on the ground and material filmed by eyewitnesses that circulated online.

From BBC

Video captured by eyewitnesses shows the Eaton fire igniting under Edison transmission towers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bystander 
• observer 
• witness