1
as in adherence
the following of a custom, rule, or law
the observance of this family tradition would make your grandmother very happy observance of the smoking ban in public buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
some religions require very specific observances on holy days
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in awareness
a state of being aware
if you've been doing any significant housecleaning, it has escaped my observance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of observance
The concert honors Women’s History Month, Narucki said, adding that Google no longer includes that cultural observance in its online calendar.
—
Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Presidents Day is a federal holiday, meaning some governmental entities and businesses will be closed in observance.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The stock market will also be closed in observance of the holiday.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Jan. 2026
Traditionally, bakers in European countries used up all their fats and sugar ahead of the Lenten season since religious observances forbid indulgences during the season.
—Jelissa Burns, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for observance
Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Presidents Day is a federal holiday, meaning some governmental entities and businesses will be closed in observance.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The stock market will also be closed in observance of the holiday.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Jan. 2026
Traditionally, bakers in European countries used up all their fats and sugar ahead of the Lenten season since religious observances forbid indulgences during the season.
—Jelissa Burns, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for observance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observance
Noun
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What is clear, though, is that this tool can be used to police adherence to policies around when people work outside the office.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Comments are moderated for adherence to our Community Guidelines.—
Sue Ambrose,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The ancient ritual will see smoke from smoldering native leaves waft over the island’s sandy beaches – to cleanse, and to heal.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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Purity, impurity, and the laws and rituals designed to manage the boundary between them — these are the cornerstone concerns of the Book of Leviticus, the third book of the Old Testament.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Proving Readiness Before Attackers Do Cyber readiness no longer fails because organizations lack tools, awareness, or budget.—
James Hadley,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The thing that was missing was awareness.—
Brad Hamilton,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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While both collective and individual participation is permitted—some large firms like H&M have created their own take-back programs—95 percent of the French fashion community (about 4,000 entities) are registered with the Refashion collective compliance program.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
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Hugo Doetsch was appointed CFO of AuditBoard, a governance, risk, and compliance platform.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The James family plans to travel to K’gari in the coming weeks to attend a smoking ceremony as guests of the island’s traditional custodians.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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Representatives from more than a dozen countries — not including Canada — appeared at a signing ceremony for the board's charter.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Ebrahimi’s death has also renewed attention on the case of another Iranian boxer, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, who is on death row.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The incident heightened national attention on aviation safety in 2025, with many people questioning whether flying was safe.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Though their observation has yet to be verified by wildlife biologists, Kogo and Tapanes are working with Burmese pythons specialists at the University of Florida to confirm the species.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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The most interesting observation from the Zubac injury was how well the Clippers played with Brook Lopez in the mix.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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United’s football board is a ceremonial construct these days — the big decisions are taken at plc level — but keeping Ferguson and Gill updated is considered internally as a shrewd move.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
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The Latin name derives from the shape of its leaves, which resemble a bishop’s miter, the ceremonial, pointed headdress worn by bishops and other church leaders.—
David Kroll,
The Conversation,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Observance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observance. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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