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Synonyms

observe

American

[uhb-zurv] / əbˈzɜrv /

verb (used with object)

to see, watch, perceive, or notice.

He observed the passersby in the street.

Antonyms:

ignore
to regard with attention, especially so as to see or learn something.

I want you to observe her reaction to the judge's question.

Synonyms:

note

Antonyms:

ignore
to watch, view, or note for a scientific, official, or other special purpose.

to observe an eclipse.

Antonyms:

ignore
to state by way of comment; remark.

He observed frequently that clerks were not as courteous as they used to be.

Synonyms:

say, mention
to keep or maintain in one's action, conduct, etc..

You must observe quiet.
to obey, comply with, or conform to.

to observe laws.

Synonyms:

fulfill, follow

Antonyms:

ignore
to show regard for by some appropriate procedure, ceremony, etc..

to observe Palm Sunday.

Synonyms:

keep, celebrate

Antonyms:

ignore
to perform duly or solemnize (ceremonies, rites, etc.).

Antonyms:

ignore
to note or inspect closely for an omen or sign of future events.

verb (used without object)

to notice.
to act as an observer.
to remark or comment (usually followed by on orupon ).

observe British

/ əbˈzɜːv /

verb

(tr; may take a clause as object) to see; perceive; notice

we have observed that you steal
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to watch (something) carefully; pay attention to (something)
to make observations of (something), esp scientific ones
to make a comment or remark

the speaker observed that times had changed
(tr) to abide by, keep, or follow (a custom, tradition, law, holiday, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

Observe, witness imply paying strict attention to what one sees or perceives. Both are “continuative” in action. To observe is to mark or be attentive to something seen, heard, etc.; to consider carefully; to watch steadily: to observe the behavior of birds, a person's pronunciation. To witness, formerly to be present when something was happening, has added the idea of having observed with sufficient care to be able to give an account as evidence: to witness an accident.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of observe

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English observen, from Middle French observer, from Latin observāre “to watch, regard, attend to,” equivalent to ob- ob- + servāre “to keep, save, pay heed to”

Explanation

Observe is often used to mean “remark” or “comment.” When trying to start up a conversation with an attractive stranger, you might observe that it’s raining outside (but hopefully you’ll come up with something more interesting to say). Observe has several secondary meanings, one of which is “notice” or “discover.” If you start a conversation with that attractive stranger, you’ll probably observe whether he or she seems interested in talking to you. Observe can also mean “watch carefully with great interest”; you might be tempted to observe the attractive stranger in this manner, but that might make him or her uncomfortable. Try to stay cool.

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Vocabulary lists containing observe

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 5

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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.

See Examples For:

observe observes observed observing

However, they do not behave quite like the active galactic nuclei astronomers observe in the nearby universe.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Still, earnings growth for the rest of the market has also been strong and accelerating, they observe, with the median S&P 500 company growing EPS by 14%.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

Aya Lewkowicz, a member of the Pink Front activist movement who came from overwhelmingly secular Tel Aviv to help protect the Jerusalem cafe, said Israelis should choose for themselves how to observe Shabbat.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

From that point on, Rideaux kept returning to the studio to soak up game, observe Hussle’s creative process and refine his craft.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Something that even Pong had failed to observe those four years ago, when the Governor had been only inches away.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

We can “learn a great deal from Eisenhower’s strategic leadership—particularly, some of the traits he demonstrated,” Mr. Cavanaugh observes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

“We were able to explore a real love story together without any physicality,” Woodley observes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

As Green observes, they did not treat it as just another reality TV payday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Demand is so strong right now, Baker observes that AI companies will be very reluctant to renegotiate terms with the chip makers because the latter can so easily find other buyers any time they like.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

"Looks like you're coming out of it already," she observes, and I have to admit her voice is pretty soothing.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

The magnetar is also observed from a nearly pole-on perspective.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026

They really are totally uncontroversial, and both clauses were seen as, like, these original anti-corruption, anti-grifting prohibitions, and were largely just observed.

From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026

It is claimed that while in the garden he observed an apple falling from a tree that led to him thinking about the theory of gravity, which he described in his 1687 book Principia.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

She was sent home three weeks in after a supervisor observed her deteriorating physical condition, according to the suit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

The mention of Conococheague Creek provoked waves of sarcasm from incredulous congressmen: “Enquiries will be made,” observed one Massachusetts member, “where in the name of common sense is Connogochque?”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

In observing the Los Angeles Ballet at rehearsal, Claire Salinda distills the appeal of ballet core: How slippers and satin can make you feel more confident, secure and ordered in a chaotic world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

But in the Kimana reserve, AFP journalists saw six carcasses on Wednesday -- some fresh, others older -- with rangers also observing partial paralysis, preventing the animals from standing.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

The findings suggest that atomically thin materials could provide an especially useful platform for observing how electrons move collectively within ordered quantum states.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

Rossall Promenade, Cleveleys The Blackpool & District Astronomical Society is hosting a free public observing session from 17:00, with some eclipse glasses available.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Because we can compare his observations with our retrodiction of the location of the moons of Jupiter when he was observing them.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023