witness

[ wit-nis ]

/ ˈwɪt nɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR witness ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception: to witness an accident.

to be present at (an occurrence) as a formal witness, spectator, bystander, etc.: She witnessed our wedding.

to bear witness to; testify to; give or afford evidence of.

to attest by one's signature: He witnessed her will.

verb (used without object)

to bear witness; testify; give or afford evidence.

noun

an individual who, being present, personally sees or perceives a thing; a beholder, spectator, or eyewitness.

a person or thing that affords evidence.

a person who gives testimony, as in a court of law.

a person who signs a document attesting the genuineness of its execution.

testimony or evidence: to bear witness to her suffering.

(initial capital letter) a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Nearby words

withywind, witigo, witless, witling, witloof, witness, witness box, witness corner, witness stand, witness-box, wits

Origin of witness

before 950; (noun) Middle English, Old English witnes orig., knowledge, understanding; see wit¹, -ness; (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR witness

1 perceive, watch, mark, notice, note. See observe.

10 proof, confirmation, substantiation.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR witness ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

wit·ness·a·ble, adjectivewit·ness·er, nounpre·wit·ness, noun, verb (used with object)self-wit·ness, noun

self-wit·nessed, adjectivewell-wit·nessed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for witness

One witness said the gunfire began after a traffic collision, which drew the attention of a nearby police officer.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The mother, Emily Kruse, was charged with obstructing justice and intimidating a witness.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The senior people were too shocked to speak,” said a witness.
Facebook Prince Purges The New Republic: Inside the Destruction of a 100-Year-Old Magazine|Lloyd Grove|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At least one witness stated that Brown was surrendering with his hands in the air when he was shot.
Why Darren Wilson Will Walk|Dean Obeidallah|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Nancy heard the shot, then another, and came to the window to witness the third and final bullet be fired into her husband.
Foxcatcher’s Real-Life Psycho Killer|Marlow Stern|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That cannot be proved unless you volunteer as a witness, and give away the whole vile story of the plot to abduct Miss Maynard.
A Traitor's Wooing|Headon Hill
She called Evelyn to witness that from the first it had been her work entirely.
The Danvers Jewels, and Sir Charles Danvers|Mary Cholmondeley
There were twenty-one entrants, and fully 300,000 spectators gathered to witness the initial flight of the aerial races.
Flying Machines|W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
Bordin asked permission of the Court to address a few questions to the witness.
An Historical Mystery|Honore de Balzac
The witness, having hastened, saw many religious who were fighting the said corporal and the other soldiers with their fists.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898|Various

British Dictionary definitions for witness

witness

/ (ˈwɪtnɪs) /

noun

a person who has seen or can give first-hand evidence of some event

a person or thing giving or serving as evidence

a person who testifies, esp in a court of law, to events or facts within his own knowledge

a person who attests to the genuineness of a document, signature, etc, by adding his own signature

bear witness

to give written or oral testimony
to be evidence or proof ofRelated adjective: testimonial

verb

(tr) to see, be present at, or know at first hand

to give or serve as evidence (of)

(tr) to be the scene or setting ofthis field has witnessed a battle

(intr) to testify, esp in a court of law, to events within a person's own knowledge

(tr) to attest to the genuineness of (a document, signature, etc) by adding one's own signature

Derived Forms

witnessable, adjectivewitnesser, noun

Word Origin for witness

Old English witnes (meaning both testimony and witness), from witan to know, wit ² + -ness; related to Old Norse vitni

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