Synonyms of observe

observe

verb

əb-ˈzərv 

1

as in to obey

to act according to the commands of

you must observe all the rules of this school, not simply the ones that meet with your personal approval

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obey
• follow
• conform (to)
• comply (with)
• adhere (to)
• abide by
• keep to
• mind
• watch
• hear
• goose-step (to)
• fall in with
• submit (to)
• yield (to)
• notice
• regard
• agree (to)
• surrender (to)
• defer (to)
• take
• attend
• accede (to)
• assent (to)
• heed
• note
• acquiesce (to)
• listen (to)
• mark

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to celebrate

to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony

a time when few people in New England observed Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• celebrate
• commemorate
• keep
• bless
• remember
• honor
• consecrate
• sanctify
• praise
• laud
• solemnize
• memorialize
• fete

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• violate
• break
• forget
• ignore
• transgress
• disregard
• overlook
• neglect
• blow off

3

as in to watch

to keep one's eyes on

happily spent many hours observing the birds at the backyard feeder

Synonyms & Similar Words

• watch
• eye
• follow
• view
• see
• stare
• perceive
• look
• monitor
• gawk
• gaze
• regard
• study
• peer
• behold
• have one's eye on
• guard
• gape
• look on
• glimpse
• wake
• peek
• spy
• glare
• ward
• rubberneck
• espy
• peep
• bird-dog
• glance
• goggle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blink
• wink

4

as in to reflect

to make a statement of one's opinion

"I think you might be mistaken," he observed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reflect
• remark
• comment
• note
• say
• opine
• commentate
• allow
• editorialize
• weigh in
• speak
• speculate
• tell
• state
• verbalize
• talk
• surmise
• express
• guess
• suppose
• articulate
• utter
• vocalize
• daresay
• conjecture

5

as in to notice

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes

she observed that the weather had changed again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• notice
• see
• spot
• eye
• regard
• perceive
• view
• watch
• discern
• remark
• sight
• witness
• note
• distinguish
• look (at)
• behold
• catch
• identify
• spy
• descry
• espy
• consider
• get a load of
• set eyes on
• examine
• lay eyes on
• inspect
• pick out
• scrutinize
• study
• heed
• attend (to)
• glimpse
• scan
• make out
• mark
• survey
• mind
• pick up
• glance (at)
• peer (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• disregard
• neglect
• pass over
• miss
• overlook
• overpass

6

as in to follow

to take notice of and be guided by

generally observes the suggestions of the experts regarding baby care

Synonyms & Similar Words

• follow
• note
• obey
• watch
• regard
• consider
• listen (to)
• heed
• respect
• contemplate
• hear
• mind
• see
• keep
• ponder
• weigh
• notice
• conform (to)
• comply (with)
• mull
• attend (to)
• mark
• hearken (to)
• hark (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• disregard
• dismiss
• tune out
• pass over
• neglect
• discount
• scorn
• gloss (over)
• brush (aside or off)
• defy
• shrug off
• flout
• slight
• pooh-pooh
• gloze (over)
• snub

Synonym Chooser

How is the word observe different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of observe are celebrate, commemorate, and keep. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

When is celebrate a more appropriate choice than observe?

The meanings of celebrate and observe largely overlap; however, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

When is it sensible to use commemorate instead of observe?

Although the words commemorate and observe have much in common, commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

When could keep be used to replace observe?

While the synonyms keep and observe are close in meaning, keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of observe

Inspectors observed rodent droppings in the kitchen area and dead mice on a glue trap. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025

As the second-largest city in Texas, San Antonio has more than 300 years of history, which can be observed through its numerous world-class museums, beautiful missions, and annual events like Fiesta Noche del Rio. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025

The vehicle involved in the deadly crash has been previously observed street racing in Tampa, according to police. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2025

Frozen complex organic molecules have been discovered for the first time around a young protostar in a galaxy other than our own, thanks to the observing power of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 Nov. 2025