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
- observantly adverb
- unobservant adjective
- unobservantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of observant
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from French, present participle of observer “to notice, observe, watch”; observe
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.
"Ravens are so observant of the landscape that they don't step into traps easily," says Loretto.
From Science Daily
Hidden hands sent the acute and observant Defoe to “gather and dispatch intelligence,” Mr. Mierowsky writes, “extending in the process Westminster’s reach across the British Isles.”
The international research team attached tiny GPS trackers to 69 ravens -- an impressive number considering the painstaking work in trapping the particularly observant birds.
From Barron's
The observant will always observe holidays and show up at houses of worship.
“I’m just very observant. And I was worried about you.”
From Literature
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.
