observe

ob·serve

verb \əb-ˈzərv\

ob·servedob·serv·ing

Definition of OBSERVE

transitive verb

1

: to conform one's action or practice to (as a law, rite, or condition) : comply with

2

: to inspect or take note of as an augury, omen, or presage

3

: to celebrate or solemnize (as a ceremony or festival) in a customary or accepted way

4

a : to watch carefully especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment

b : to make a scientific observation on or of

5

: to come to realize or know especially through consideration of noted facts

6

: to utter as a remark

intransitive verb

1

a : to take notice

b : to make observations : watch

2

: remark, comment

— ob·serv·ing·ly \-ˈzər-viŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of OBSERVE

1. The class will be observing the movements of fish.
2. The patient must be observed constantly.
3. Children learn by observing their parents and others.
4. The new teacher will give the lesson today and the principal will observe.
5. We observed a large flock of birds heading north.
6. He observed two children playing with marbles on the street corner.
7. She observed that every man in the room had removed his hat.
8. Few cases of the disease have been observed in humans.

Origin of OBSERVE

Middle English, from Anglo-French observer, from Latin observare to guard, watch, observe, from ob- in the way, toward + servare to keep — more at conserve

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to OBSERVE

Synonyms

adhere (to), comply (with), conform (to), follow, goose-step (to), mind, obey

Antonyms

defy, disobey, rebel (against)

Related Words

defer (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to); accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to); attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, take, watch

Near Antonyms

disoblige; challenge, dare; refuse, renounce, repudiate; direct, lead; brush off, disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, wink (at); dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), shrug off; breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate; deride, flout, mock, scoff (at), scorn; mutiny (against), revolt (against); buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand

See Synonym Discussion at keep

Rhymes with OBSERVE

bell curve, conserve, deserve, disserve, french curve, hors d'oeuvre, incurve, preserve, recurve, reserve, self-serve, sine curve, skew curve, subserve, unnerve