witness

noun wit·ness \ ˈwit-nəs \

|Updated on: 21 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: witness in a Sentence

Definition of witness

1 : attestation of a fact or event : testimony

2 : one that gives evidence; specifically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal

3 : one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place

4 : one who has personal knowledge of something

5 a : something serving as evidence or proof : sign

b : public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or conviction

the heroic witness to divine life
—Pilot

6 capitalized : a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses

See witness defined for English-language learners

See witness defined for kids

Examples of witness in a Sentence

The defense called its first witness to the stand.
a witness for the defense
His aunt and uncle were witnesses at his baptism.
There must be two witnesses present when she signs the document.

Recent Examples of witness from the Web

The objects bear witness to the toll of genocide, a term coined to characterize the Holocaust but applicable to humanity’s seemingly never-ending campaigns to erase identity.

— howard reich, chicagotribune.com, "Precious possessions: The genocide survivors who kept them tell their stories," 13 July 2018
After lugging in a white cooler that witnesses say was full of Corona Light, Lt.

— sarah blaskey, miamiherald, "The lieutenant brought the beer. Then he covered the camera with a red party cup.," 9 July 2018
As CBS News reports, when Washington gets on his feet to pick up the weapon, witnesses say PSU officers open fire on him, killing him.

— anne branigin, The Root, "Portland State University Campus Police Shoot and Kill Black Navy Veteran Who Was Trying to Break Up Fight," 4 July 2018
After bearing witness to the club's highest of highs and lowest of lows — and setting a record for all-time appearances with more than 100 and counting — Brad Ring has seen pretty much everything during his Indy Eleven tenure.

— kevin johnston, Indianapolis Star, "New everything for Indy Eleven this season, but same old Brad Ring," 3 July 2018
Something had happened that didn’t feel right, and here were lines of my blood to bear witness to it and speak of it on my behalf.

— shirley manson, New York Times, "Shirley Manson: The First Time I Cut Myself," 3 July 2018
The professor was hit several times, with the attacker punching his shoulder and kippah, before a witness alerted police.

— rick noack, Washington Post, "A Baltimore professor was the victim of an anti-Semitic attack and then German police punched him," 13 July 2018
Dispatch showed nothing in tow logs and deputies were not able to find any witnesses or suspect information.

— austen erblat, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Wellington, Royal Palm Beach area crime log: June 15-30," 13 July 2018
Attorneys for both sides will be able to call witnesses.

— mandy mclaren, The Courier-Journal, "Hearings on state takeover of JCPS will begin in September," 13 July 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of witness

Middle English witnesse, from Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from ¹wit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

witness Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

witness

verb

Definition of witness

witnessed; witnessing; witnesses

transitive verb

1 : to testify to : attest

2 : to act as legal witness of

3 : to furnish proof of : betoken

4 a : to have personal or direct cognizance of : see for oneself

witnessed the historic event

b : to take note of

our grammar— witness our verb system—is a marvel of flexibility, variety, and exactitude
—Charlton Laird

5 : to constitute the scene or time of

structures … which this striking Dorset hilltop once witnessed
—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

intransitive verb

1 : to bear witness : testify

2 : to bear witness to one's religious convictions

opportunity to witness for Christ
—Billy Graham

See witness defined for English-language learners

Examples of witness in a Sentence

Several people witnessed the accident.
We are witnessing a historic moment.
He witnessed the signing of her will.

Recent Examples of witness from the Web

Part of the attack was witnessed by the young son of Rosales and his former girlfriend, the release said.

— staff report, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin man gets 28 years for beating that left victims with broken teeth, permanent scars," 12 July 2018
It was reported to police by a woman who said she was flagged down by the campers — two adults with three children who witnessed the struggle.

— christina lords, idahostatesman, "Man shot and killed after struggle over firearm at Owyhee River campsite," 10 July 2018
Another racer was the first to get to Allen, but two photographers who witnessed the fall also scrambled down.

— rhiannon russell, Outside Online, "How Hillary Allen Overcame a Traumatic Injury," 21 June 2018
North Korea did make a grand gesture recently, inviting reporters to witness the detonation of underground nuclear test tunnels -- but the US intelligence community now says the performance might have been more theater than reality.

— nicole gaouette, CNN, "Trump's North Korea summit raises déjà vu concerns," 1 June 2018
North Korea has invited the outside world to witness the dismantling of its nuclear facilities before.

— kim tong-hyung, The Seattle Times, "Trump welcomes N. Korea plan to blow up nuke-site tunnels," 13 May 2018
Journalists from the United States, Russia, South Korea, China and Britain will be invited to witness the process, North Korea state media said Saturday.

— jim michaels, USA TODAY, "Dismantling North Korea nukes could be costly and take years to complete," 12 May 2018
State media says that foreign journalists will be invited to witness the decommissioning.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "North Korea says that it will dismantle its nuclear test site this month," 12 May 2018
The couple were welcomed at the palace in Oxfordshire — about 60 miles outside of London — by Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip, before witnessing a performance by the Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards military bands.

— USA TODAY, "Live in London where protesters are rallying against President Trump's visit to UK," 13 July 2018

First Known Use of witness

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

witness Synonyms

Synonyms

behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, see, sight, spot, spy, view;

Near Antonyms

disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over;

miss, overlook;

Related Words

identify, make out, pick out, pick up;

attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind;

study, watch;

examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey;

glance (at), glimpse, peer (at);

Phrases

get a load of [slang], lay eyes on, set eyes on;

Synonym Discussion of witness

certify, attest, witness, vouch mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something. certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

- certified that the candidate had met all requirements

attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

- attested to the authenticity of the document

witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

- witnessed the signing of the will

vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

- willing to vouch for her integrity

WITNESS Defined for English Language Learners

witness

noun

Definition of witness for English Language Learners

: a person who sees something (such as a crime) happen
law : a person who makes a statement in a court about what he or she knows or has seen
: a person who is present at an event (such as a wedding) and can say that it happened

witness

verb

Definition of witness for English Language Learners

: to see (something) happen
law : to be present at (an event) in order to be able to say that it happened : to act as a legal witness of (something)
: to be the time or place when (something) happens

WITNESS Defined for Kids

witness

noun wit·ness \ ˈwit-nəs \

Definition of witness for Students

1 : a person who sees or otherwise has personal knowledge of something

witnesses of an accident

2 : a person who gives testimony in court

3 : a person who is present at an action (as the signing of a will) so as to be able to say who did it

4 : testimony

He gave false witness in court.

witness

verb

Definition of witness for Students

witnessed; witnessing

1 : to see or gain personal knowledge of something

2 : to act as a witness to I witnessed the signing of the will.

3 : to be or give proof of

Their actions witness their guilt.

Law Dictionary

witness

noun wit·ness

legal Definition of witness

1 a : attestation of a fact or event

in witness whereof the parties have executed this release

b : evidence (as of the authenticity of a conveyance by deed) furnished by signature, oath, or seal

2 : one who gives evidence regarding matters of fact under inquiry; specifically : one who testifies or is legally qualified to testify in a case or to give evidence before a judicial tribunal or similar inquiry

a witness before a congressional committee

no person…shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself
—U.S. Constitution amend. V

— compare affiant, deponent

— adverse witness

: a witness who is called by or associated with an opposing party or who by statement, conduct, or other evidence (as of relationship) shows bias against or is injurious to the case of the party by whom the witness is called

sought to have his witness declared an adverse witness subject to impeachment

— called also hostile witness; see also leading question at question 1

— alibi witness

: a witness upon whom a criminal defendant relies in establishing an alibi

— character witness

: a witness who testifies as to the character or reputation especially of a criminal defendant : a witness who gives character evidence

— expert witness

: a witness (as a medical specialist) who by virtue of special knowledge, skill, training, or experience is qualified to provide testimony to aid the factfinder in matters that exceed the common knowledge of ordinary people

— hostile witness

: adverse witness in this entry

— lay witness

: a witness who is not an expert witness

— material witness

: a witness whose testimony is necessary for trial and whose presence may sometimes be secured by the state by subpoena, custody, or recognizance

— prosecuting witness

: a witness (as the victim of a crime) whose own allegations initiate the prosecution of the defendant

— qualified witness

: a witness who has sufficient understanding of a record-keeping system to provide testimony that forms the proper foundation for admission of evidence under the business records exception to the hearsay rule

— rebuttal witness

: a witness called upon to rebut evidence already presented

3 : one who is called on to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its occurrence; specifically : one who sees the execution of an instrument and signs it to confirm its authenticity

a witness to a will

4 : eyewitness

a witness to an assault

— bear witness

: to furnish or constitute proof or evidence

Origin and Etymology of witness

Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from wit mind, sense, knowledge

witness

transitive verb

legal Definition of witness

1 : to furnish evidence or proof of

2 : to act as witness of: as

a : to see the execution of (an instrument) and sign for the purpose of establishing authenticity

witness a will

b : to be formally present as a witness of (as a transaction or the execution of a convict)

3 a : to see or experience directly

b : to take note of

intransitive verb

: to bear witness : give evidence

witness

adjective

legal Definition of witness

: being an object or location used to ascertain a precise boundary point especially on a corner of a tract when marking that point itself is impracticable or impossible