observatory

noun ob·ser·va·to·ry \ əb-ˈzər-və-ˌtȯr-ē \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Examples: observatory in a Sentence

Definition of observatory

plural observatories

1 : a building or place given over to or equipped for observation of natural phenomena (as in astronomy); also : an institution whose primary purpose is making such observations

2 : a situation or structure commanding a wide view

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Examples of observatory in a Sentence

the observatory is located on a mountaintop

Recent Examples of observatory from the Web

This sprawling 3,300-acre resort along the Deschutes River was once a World War II training facility and has its own observatory.

— megan michelson, Outside Online, "These Are the Best Stargazing Spots in North America," 13 July 2018
The last detected explosion at the volcano happened May 8, according to the observatory.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "Restless Aleutian volcano put back on watch status after lava flows in crater," 27 June 2018
The Syrian regime and Russian airstrikes have destroyed four hospitals and two emergency rescue centers, according to the observatory.

— dov lieber, WSJ, "Russia-Backed Syrian Forces Intensify Assault on Rebel Stronghold," 27 June 2018
Theoretically, her post at the observatory should have automatically made her the first woman elected as Astronomer Royal.

— brian keating, WIRED, "There's Nothing Noble about Science’s Nobel Prize Gender Gap," 27 May 2018
While its eruption may have ended, the volcano does not have a local network to monitor it, according to the observatory.

— josh hafner, USA TODAY, "Before Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, these active US volcanoes erupted in recent years," 14 May 2018
On a visit to the volcano observatory, the boys watch the blips of seismic activity moving across computer screens, and stand cautiously to one side of the bubbling, red-hot springs.

— sophy roberts, Condé Nast Traveler, "Navigating Tradition and Tourism in Papua New Guinea," 3 May 2018
Indiscriminate shelling of Damascus by anti-Assad fighters has killed 112 people, including 17 children, since Nov. 16, according to the observatory.

— mark deen, Bloomberg.com, "France Says Damascus Suburb Attack Shows Why Assad Must Go," 22 Feb. 2018
In subsequent centuries, wealthy benefactors sponsored the construction of giant telescopes, such as James Lick who is buried underneath the concrete of his eponymous observatory on the summit of Mt. Hamilton near San Jose, California.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The Deep Space Eye in the Desert," 14 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'observatory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.