observe
[ uhb-zurv ]
/ əbˈzɜrv /
verb (used with object), ob·served, ob·serv·ing.
verb (used without object), ob·served, ob·serv·ing.
Origin of observe
1350–1400; Middle English
observen < Middle French
observer < Latin
observāre to watch, regard, attend to, equivalent to
ob-
ob- +
servāre to keep, save, pay heed to
SYNONYMS FOR observe
2
note.
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.
4 mention, say.
6 follow, fulfill.
7 celebrate, keep.
OTHER WORDS FROM observe
Words nearby observe
observation,
observation car,
observation post,
observational,
observatory,
observe,
observer,
obsess,
obsessed,
obsession,
obsessive
Example sentences from the Web for observing
British Dictionary definitions for observing
observe
/ (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
(when intr, usually foll by on or upon; when tr, may take a clause as object)
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)
Derived forms of observe
observable, adjective observableness or observability, noun observably, adverbWord Origin for observe
C14: via Old French from Latin
observāre, from
ob- to +
servāre to watch