observe
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ob·serve
(əb-zûrv′)v. ob·served, ob·serv·ing, ob·serves
v.tr.
1.
a. To be or become aware of, especially through careful and directed attention; notice: observed a car leaving the property.
b. To watch attentively: observe a child's behavior.
c. To make a systematic or scientific observation of: observe the orbit of a comet.
2. To say casually; remark: "'It's nice to have somebody to wait on you,' she observed, with a laugh" (Upton Sinclair).
3.
a. To adhere to or abide by; comply with: observe the terms of a contract.
b. To act in acknowledgment of (a holiday, for example); keep or celebrate: observe an anniversary.
c. To maintain (silence or a period of silence), as out of respect for someone who has died.
v.intr.
1. To take notice: stood by the window observing.
2. To say something; make a comment or remark: observed upon the unusual weather.
3. To watch or be present without participating actively: We were invited to the conference solely to observe.
[Middle English observen, to conform to, from Old French observer, from Latin observāre, to abide by, watch : ob-, over; see ob- + servāre, to keep, watch; see ser- in Indo-European roots.]
ob·serv′ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: observe, keep, celebrate, commemorate, solemnize
These verbs mean to give proper heed to or show proper reverence for something, such as a custom or holiday. Observe and keep stress compliance or respectful adherence to that which is prescribed: observes the Sabbath; keeps the holiday traditions. Celebrate emphasizes observance in the form of rejoicing or festivity: a surprise party to celebrate her birthday. To commemorate is to honor the memory of a past event: a ceremony that commemorated the career of a physician. Solemnize implies dignity and gravity in the celebration of an occasion: solemnized the funeral with a 21-gun salute. See Also Synonyms at see1.
These verbs mean to give proper heed to or show proper reverence for something, such as a custom or holiday. Observe and keep stress compliance or respectful adherence to that which is prescribed: observes the Sabbath; keeps the holiday traditions. Celebrate emphasizes observance in the form of rejoicing or festivity: a surprise party to celebrate her birthday. To commemorate is to honor the memory of a past event: a ceremony that commemorated the career of a physician. Solemnize implies dignity and gravity in the celebration of an occasion: solemnized the funeral with a 21-gun salute. See Also Synonyms at see1.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
observe
(əbˈzɜːv)vb
1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to see; perceive; notice: we have observed that you steal.
2. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to watch (something) carefully; pay attention to (something)
3. to make observations of (something), esp scientific ones
4. (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.
5. (tr) to abide by, keep, or follow (a custom, tradition, law, holiday, etc)
[C14: via Old French from Latin observāre, from ob- to + servāre to watch]
obˈservable adj
obˈservableness, obˌservaˈbility n
obˈservably adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ob•serve
(əbˈzɜrv)v. -served, -serv•ing. v.t.
1. to see, watch, or notice.
2. to regard with attention, esp. so as to see or learn something.
3. to watch, view, or note for a scientific, official, or other special purpose: to observe an eclipse.
4. to state by way of comment; remark.
5. to keep or maintain in one's action, conduct, etc.: to observe quiet.
6. to obey, comply with, or conform to: to observe laws.
7. to celebrate, as a holiday, in an appropriate way.
8. to perform duly or solemnize (ceremonies, rites, etc.).
9. to note or inspect closely, as for an omen.
v.i. 10. to notice.
11. to act as an observer.
12. to remark or comment (usu. fol. by on or upon).
[1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French observer < Latin observāre to watch, regard =ob- ob- + servāre to keep, save, pay heed to]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
observe
Past participle: observed
Gerund: observing
| Imperative |
|---|
| observe |
| observe |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | observe - discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of; "She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water"; "We found traces of lead in the paint" catch out, find out - trap; especially in an error or in a reprehensible act; "He was caught out"; "She was found out when she tried to cash the stolen checks" discover, find - make a discovery, make a new finding; "Roentgen discovered X-rays"; "Physicists believe they found a new elementary particle" sense - detect some circumstance or entity automatically; "This robot can sense the presence of people in the room"; "particle detectors sense ionization" instantiate - find an instance of (a word or particular usage of a word); "The linguists could not instantiate this sense of the noun that he claimed existed in a certain dialect" trace - discover traces of; "She traced the circumstances of her birth" see - observe as if with an eye; "The camera saw the burglary and recorded it" |
| 2. | observe - make mention of; "She observed that his presentation took up too much time"; "They noted that it was a fine day to go sailing" | |
| 3. | observe - observe with care or pay close attention to; "Take note of this chemical reaction" | |
| 4. | observe - watch attentively; "Please observe the reaction of these two chemicals" watch - look attentively; "watch a basketball game" monitor, supervise - keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance; "we are monitoring the air quality"; "the police monitor the suspect's moves" monitor - check, track, or observe by means of a receiver track - observe or plot the moving path of something; "track a missile" | |
| 5. |  observe - show respect towards; "honor your parents!"accept - consider or hold as true; "I cannot accept the dogma of this church"; "accept an argument" lionise, lionize, celebrate - assign great social importance to; "The film director was celebrated all over Hollywood"; "The tenor was lionized in Vienna" tolerate - recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others); "We must tolerate the religions of others" | |
| 6. | observe - behave as expected during of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur" commemorate, mark - mark by some ceremony or observation; "The citizens mark the anniversary of the revolution with a march and a parade" mourn - observe the customs of mourning after the death of a loved one | |
| 7. | observe - follow with the eyes or the mind; "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars" check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, suss out, look into, go over - examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition; "check the brakes"; "Check out the engine" trace, follow - follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress" keep tabs on - keep a record on or watch attentively; "The government keeps tabs on the dissidents" guard - to keep watch over; "there would be men guarding the horses" invigilate, proctor - watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating) | |
| 8. | observe - stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees" | |
| 9. | observe - conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract" make good - act as promised; "make good on promises" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
observe
verb
1. watch, study, view, look at, note, check, regard, survey, monitor, contemplate, check out (informal), look on, keep an eye on (informal), gaze at, pay attention to, keep track of, scrutinize, keep tabs on (informal), recce (slang), keep under observation, watch like a hawk, take a dekko at (Brit. slang) He studies and observes the behaviour of babies.
2. notice, see, note, mark, discover, spot, regard, witness, clock (Brit. slang), distinguish, perceive, detect, discern, behold (archaic or literary), eye, eyeball (slang), peer at, espy, get a load of (informal) In 1664 Hooke observed a reddish spot on the surface of the planet.
3. remark, say, comment, state, note, reflect, mention, declare, opine, pass comment, animadvert `I like your hair that way,' he observed.
4. comply with, keep, follow, mind, respect, perform, carry out, honour, fulfil, discharge, obey, heed, conform to, adhere to, abide by Forcing motorists to observe speed restrictions is difficult.
comply with ignore, overlook, neglect, violate, disregard
comply with ignore, overlook, neglect, violate, disregard
5. celebrate, keep, commemorate, mark, remember, participate in, solemnize We are observing Christmas quietly this year.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
observe
verb1. To perceive with a special effort of the senses or the mind:
2. To look at or on attentively or carefully:
Idioms: have one's eye on, keep tabs on.
4. To act in conformity with:
Idiom: toe the line.
5. To mark (a day or an event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
observe
[əbˈzɜːv] VT2. (= watch carefully, study) → observar, mirar; [+ suspect] → vigilar
now observe this closely → ahora fijaos bien en esto
now observe this closely → ahora fijaos bien en esto
3. (= remark) → observar, comentar
"it looks like rain" - he observed → -parece que va a llover -observó or comentó él
I observed to him that → le hice observar que ...
as Jeeves observed → como observó Jeeves
"it looks like rain" - he observed → -parece que va a llover -observó or comentó él
I observed to him that → le hice observar que ...
as Jeeves observed → como observó Jeeves
4. (= obey) [+ rule, custom] → observar; [+ Sabbath, silence] → guardar
failure to observe the law → incumplimiento m de la ley
failure to observe the law → incumplimiento m de la ley
5. [+ anniversary] → celebrar
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
observe
(əbˈzəːv) verb4. to make a remark. `It's a lovely day', he observed.señalar
obˈservance noun1. the act of obeying rules etc. the observance of the law.observancia, cumplimiento
2. the act of observing (a tradition etc). the observance of religious holidays.observancia
obˈservant adjective quick to notice. An observant boy remembered the car's registration number.observador
ˌobserˈvation (ob-) noun1. the act of noticing or watching. She is in hospital for observation.observación
2. a remark. observación, comentario
obˈservatory – plural obˈservatories – noun a place for observing and studying the stars, weather etc. observatorio
obˈserver noun a person who observes. observador
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
observe
→ observarMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
observe
v. observar, estudiar, examinar;
___ standard procedures → ___ procedimientos estándar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012