witness

American  

[wit-nis] / ˈwɪt nɪs /

verb (used with object)

• witnesses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• witnessed,
  past participle,  past
• witnessing
  present participle

1. to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception.

   to witness an accident.

   Synonyms:

   note, notice, mark, watch, perceive

2. to be present at (an occurrence) as a formal witness, spectator, bystander, etc..

   She witnessed our wedding.

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

4. to attest by one's signature.

   He witnessed her will.

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verb (used without object)

• witnesses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• witnessed,
  past participle,  past
• witnessing
  present participle

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

noun

• witnesses
  plural

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

2. a person or thing that affords evidence.

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

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

5. testimony or evidence.

   to bear witness to her suffering.

   Synonyms:

   substantiation, confirmation, proof

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

witness British  

/ ˈwɪtnɪs /

noun

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

2. a person or thing giving or serving as evidence

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

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

5. 1. to give written or oral testimony

   2. to be evidence or proof of

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verb

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

2. to give or serve as evidence (of)

3. (tr) to be the scene or setting of

   this field has witnessed a battle

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

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

Usage

What does witness mean? A witness is someone who was present at or perceives an incident, event, or occurrence, as in Jamal was a witness to the fact that I completed all my homework. People who witness something typically do so through seeing, although they can also witness a smell or sound. In order to witness an event, one must simply be present at the time the event happened, even if the witness was not directly involved. To witness something is to see, hear, sense, or know something, as in I witnessed our dog running out the door, but I didn’t see where she went. To witness is also to testify or give evidence, especially in a court of law. Example: The key witness in the theft case was a local shop owner.

Synonym Usage

See observe.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prewitness
  noun
• self-witness
  noun
• witnesser
  noun
• self-witnessed
  adjective
• well-witnessed
  adjective
• witnessable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• witnesses
  plural

Participles

• witnessing
  present
• witnessed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• witness
  simple
• witnesses
  simple
• have witnessed
  perfect
• has witnessed
  perfect
• am witnessing
  progressive
• are witnessing
  progressive
• is witnessing
  progressive
• have been witnessing
  perfect progressive
• has been witnessing
  perfect progressive

Past

• witnessed
  simple
• had witnessed
  perfect
• was witnessing
  progressive
• were witnessing
  progressive
• had been witnessing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will witness
  simple
• will have witnessed
  perfect
• will be witnessing
  progressive
• will have been witnessing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of witness

First recorded before 950; (noun) Middle English, Old English witnes originally, “knowledge, understanding”; see wit ¹, -ness; (verb) Middle English, derivative of the noun

Explanation

If you're walking down the street and see one car run a red light and plow into another, you are a witness to the accident. You saw it and can tell someone else how the accident happened. The first part of a witness's role is observation. You witness the accident. The second part is telling someone about it — bearing witness. In court, you can be a witness for the defense or prosecution. You can also witness a legal document, like a will, or a wedding conducted by the justice of the peace. Religious people use this word a lot too: being a witness in that sense is being a true believer who tries to convert others.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

witness witnesses witnessed witnessing

“It was exciting to witness something that seemed like science fiction.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

In recent years, Harry has sued three different UK newspapers, becoming the first senior royal in over a century to enter the witness box as he won settlements from two.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

It revealed that the lead detective who investigated the murders - a key trial witness - and two prosecution solicitors had been staying at the same hotel as the sequestered jury.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

"Only studies like ours offer an overview of these traditions which bear witness to genuine know-how and diverse traditions."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

Too bad the bright day was his only witness.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

Mirroring similar fixtures in European countries, the UK government has said the day aims to recognise those impacted by terrorism including victims and their families, witnesses and the emergency services.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are among the star witnesses expected to testify, according to court documents.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Juliet answers Jonathan’s summons to join him in questioning witnesses and potential suspects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Following three weeks of testimony from dozens of witnesses, prosecutors rested their case on Monday.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

The trial lasted until the end of January 1882, and about 150 people testified as witnesses.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Still, she praised what she witnessed at the Austin school.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

He witnessed people with doctorate degrees and 20 years of experience coming out of rooms with their faces sagging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

I asked Fox if he was ready for the spotlight, which I had witnessed in full force in Louisville.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Los Angeles has witnessed the elimination of more than 50,000 entertainment jobs since 2022.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

She stood motionless and thought about the cruelty she’d witnessed from the Clarks.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Combined with other observations, including its exceptionally high temperature, the measurements led the researchers to conclude that they were witnessing a star being ripped apart and swallowed by a black hole.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Mangione, wearing tan jail garb, told the judge that after enduring severe pain, and witnessing others with similar experiences, he learned of the company’s investor conference.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

But the experience will not be similar to witnessing a total eclipse.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Politicians from the Clogher Valley area had previously spoken out about accounts from the public and neighbours who said they were distressed after witnessing some of the cattle being culled.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

It wasn't quite like stepping into a military ambush, or being on the front lines in Spain, or witnessing the aftermath of an atomic bomb, but the atmosphere around me was definitely hostile.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

Related Words

• attend
• mark
• note
• notice
• see
• watch