witness

American  

[wit-nis] / ˈwɪt nɪs /

verb (used with object)

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)

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

noun

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.

Related Words

See observe.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of witness

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

Example Sentences

After starting anew, he spent his final decades there, dying in 1810 but living long enough to witness the British and American abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

“Malcolm would have to witness that and realize he’s partially responsible for it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Adding another layer of complexity, is the onus that places on witness testimony from so-called "brothers in arms".

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Overnight attacks on Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in an industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail, a witness who requested anonymity told AFP, hours after similar installations in Iran were struck.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Kok had a noble agenda: He wanted Bobby to continue his career, and he wanted to be a privileged witness to his games, as did almost all chess players.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

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