observe

verb ob·serve \ əb-ˈzərv \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

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Examples: observe in a Sentence

Definition of observe

observed; observing

transitive verb

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

failed to observe the law and as a consequence had to pay a fine

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

observed the flight of the sacred geese

3 : to celebrate or solemnize (something, such as a ceremony or festival) in a customary or accepted way

observed Independence Day with a parade

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

observed the behavior of the children

b : to make a scientific observation on or of

observed the mating habits of the grouse

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

… observed that the indefinite reduction of any given risk to society often brings with it an increase in other risks.
—E. L. Zebroski

6 : to utter as a remark

"The paint," she observed, "is already starting to peel."

intransitive verb

1 a : to take notice

When your teacher is demonstrating something, sit up and observe!

b : to make observations : watch

Perform your tricks, and we will observe.

2 : remark, comment

In her speech she observed on the changing climate.

—

observingly

play \əb-ˈzər-viŋ-lē\ adverb

See observe defined for English-language learners

See observe defined for kids

Examples of observe in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of observe from the Web

Newsrooms around the world observed a moment of silence at 2:33 p.m. Eastern time Thursday — one week after a gunman opened fire in the Capital Gazette newspaper’s Annapolis office and killed five employees.

— justin wm. moyer and rachel chason, Washington Post, "Newsrooms observe a moment of silence to honor Capital Gazette victims," 5 July 2018
While using laser radar to measure vehicles' speed, the officers observed two vehicles leave the stop light at 45th Street and appeared to be racing each other westbound down Ave O.

— nick powell, Houston Chronicle, "Galveston driver hits three police motorcycles while racing," 4 July 2018
On their way to to the scene at Sohier Road and Northridge Road on Friday, Beverly police observed fireworks being shot off at nearby St. Mary Cemetary.

— thomas oide, BostonGlobe.com, "Beverly police seize cache of homemade fireworks, issue warning to public," 2 July 2018
The researchers observed that people who had watched the video were significantly more likely than the control group to use a meat thermometer properly while making their turkey burgers.

— jamie ducharme, Time, "You're Probably Not Washing Your Hands Right, Study Says," 30 June 2018
The officer observed an open bottle of vodka on the dashboard.

— staff report, chicagotribune.com, "Norridge and Harwood Heights police reports," 29 June 2018
But soon after the success of M. Butterfly, Wong observed how easily non-white actors like himself could be put into a box.

— karen ho, GQ, "BD Wong Doesn't Want Fame—He Wants Success," 27 June 2018
Retail theft 12800 block of West Sunrise Boulevard in Sunrise, June 2, 4:20 p.m. A loss prevention officer observed a subject take $39.98 worth of clothing from a store.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Plantation, Sunrise area crime reports," 27 June 2018
However, The Shade Room observed that Nelly’s former girlfriend Ashanti posted a video with his father to her Instagram Stories shortly before the tirade.

— jordan runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "'No More Money from Me': Nelly Severs Ties with His Father via Social Media," 25 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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