OBSERVINGLY Synonyms: 454 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

observe 1 of 4

verb (1)

əb-ˈzərv

Definition of observe

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to watch

to keep one's eyes on happily spent many hours observing the birds at the backyard feeder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blink
wink

as in to reflect

to make a statement of one's opinion "I think you might be mistaken," he observed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

observing

2 of 4

adjective

as in participating

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in aware

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

observing

3 of 4

noun

as in observation

Related Words

observing

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of observe

as in obeying

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in celebrating

to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony a time when few people in New England observed Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in watching

to keep one's eyes on happily spent many hours observing the birds at the backyard feeder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reflecting

to make a statement of one's opinion "I think you might be mistaken," he observed

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in noticing

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes she observed that the weather had changed again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in following

to take notice of and be guided by generally observes the suggestions of the experts regarding baby care

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of observe

Verb

The Heritage Foundation’s Yenor dismisses the notion that elite sports pose any threat to male fertility, observing to SciAm that, since 1990, Super Bowl–winning quarterbacks have had a higher than average number of children. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026 Taken as a whole, the methodology rewards what can be observed from the outside. — Ilya Strebulaev, Time, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

For an even more enhanced observing experience, find a dark environment away from bright lights to attend the total eclipse show. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026 There is discussion in the news nationwide about legal observing and know-your-rights training sessions. — Heidi Reynolds-Stenson, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2026

Verb

After approximately three weeks in the field, a supervisor allegedly sent her home after observing that her physical condition was deteriorating. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 The hubbub from the restaurant immediately stops for a moment (with Ninh observing the loud pot smash from an open doorway), before the patrons soon enough resume their conversations at basically the exact same noise level. — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for observe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for observe

Verb

People are riding e-bikes and e-motorcycles, sometimes riding recklessly, traveling at high speeds, or not obeying the rules of the road.

— Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
If the early universe obeyed this rule, our modern cosmos would be devoid of substance, just energy fields rippling eternally through emptiness.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of obey

Verb

Some Syrians celebrated in the streets after the death sentence handed down to al-Assad and his younger brother, Maher.

— Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
The Air Jordan 4 Retro OG Jackie Robinson will be released April 15, which is celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day, from Nike’s Snkrs app and select Jordan Brand retailers for $230.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of celebrate

Verb

When the Bills’ first unit was in base defense for three snaps, 2025 third-round pick Landon Jackson got the work with Walker and Oliver while Sanders watched from the sidelines without his helmet on.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Most visitors are likely to watch from hotels, Nile cruise ships or riverside viewing areas rather than iconic sites such as Karnak Temple or Luxor Temple, where access is likely to be restricted.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of watch

Verb

Tim’s journey reflects the film’s larger ideas about finding wonder outside the routine and distractions of modern life.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
One system cannot counter every drone Military analysts explain that the problem goes beyond Taiwan and reflects a bigger challenge for armed forces trying to respond to evolving drone technology.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of reflect

Verb

Orange County beachgoers notice that there's a lot of stingrays lately, and lifeguards say the warm water, especially in places where the surf is relatively calm, is contributing to a dramatic increase in the number of stingray incidents.

— Michele Gile, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Apartments with sticky floors and landlords absentee enough not to notice, or care, if a living room became a mosh pit.

— Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of notice

Verb

This follows a successful season 18 which delivered double-digit growth over the previous season and set a new franchise premiere viewership record.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
Two further extensions have since followed, the latest in January being an 18-month deal to take James to the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of follow

Verb

The Gwangju Biennale was founded in 1994 to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, during which hundreds of civilians were killed during a protest against the authoritarian military government’s brutal crackdown on civil rights.

— Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026
The free event is one of the signature celebrations commemorating the country's 250th anniversary, according to DC250.

— Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of commemorate

Browse Nearby Words

observatory

observe

observed

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Observe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observe. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of observe

verb (1)

adjective

noun

verb (2)

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