observe 1 of 4

1
2
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

3
4
5
6

observing

2 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of observe
1
2
3
4
5
6

observing

3 of 4

adjective

observing

4 of 4

noun

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 observing
Adjective
What a $1 Million Lifetime Wage Gap Looks Like Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, observed each July, marks how far into the year this demographic must work to match what white men earned the year before. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025 Webb’s observation of the nebula lends unprecedented detail to a region previously observed by other space telescopes, including Hubble, NASA said. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 July 2025 Fourteen other states also observe multiple time zones. Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 12 July 2025 His death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, but Epstein's brother Mark hired renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to observe the official autopsy. Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025 Such fragility makes squid babies interesting to study and observe. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2025 The plane’s fuel was tested and found to be of satisfactory quality, and no significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path, according to the report. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 12 July 2025 It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025 Other studies show that, when appropriately prompted, LLMs can replicate human decision-making patterns in economic experiments, or can accurately reproduce linguistic patterns and political inclinations observed in actual social media user behavior. François Candelon, Fortune, 11 July 2025
Noun
For McCullough, practicing Islam and observing Ramadan with others while in prison is a blessing. Shanzeh Ahmad, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025 More than 200 members of the Brooklyn community lined up along the sides of Ocean Parkway observing the aftermath of the tragic accident as police blocked off the scene. Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025 Standing on the sideline, arms crossed and observing the action, Nuggets coach Michael Malone shook his head slightly and smiled. Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 Sitting, observing and watching through a different lens proved helpful for Jokić, who often spends close to 40 minutes per game on the floor. Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 Her recipe calls for both coconut milk and coconut water, the latter providing an extra dose of hydration, a welcome boost to those observing Ramadan. Mia Leimkuhler, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 The film, named after the neighborhood where it was shot, captures life by observing how people talk to each other — on the street, in hair salons, while working together, in restaurants, at a birthday party. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025 After observing nature, participants can apply ReGrow Volusia resources to create a natural habitat in their yard or community. Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025 Those viewing the partial eclipse are advised to follow safe viewing practices, as observing the sun without proper eye protection can cause permanent damage. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observing
Adjective
  • Musk’s comment about Bannon returning to prison was made under a post showing Trump’s Truth Social post, indicating that the billionaire is aware of the threat but is choosing not to respond yet.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2025
  • Prince William’s charitable team was not aware of the Mondejar Foundation, nor of its attempts to solicit donations through an exclusive networking group called A Small World by offering access to the royal couple via the polo event.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Melissa Carter then takes us on a journey through nearly a century of observations from Scripps Pier, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the cutting-edge technologies now used to study marine plankton.
    David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2025
  • Of note, there's a 70-foot tall observation tower and a castle-like structure — a replica of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official insignia built during the Great Depression — housing some of the zoo's smaller mammals, birds and other reptiles.
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • An accompanying photo illustration showed the Bronze Fonz statue being hoisted off its pedestal on the RiverWalk in downtown Milwaukee.
    Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 11 July 2025
  • Now, he’s announced an accompanying greatest hits compilation, out Sept. 5.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Monitor weather conditions via radar or lightning app. Keep a watchful eye on the sky.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • Also entering the Villa for compatibility challenges and matchups under the watchful eye of Perfect Match host Nick Lachey is Clayton Echard (The Bachelor), Rachel Recchia (The Bachelorette), Cody Wright (Temptation Island), Daniel Perfetto (Dated & Related) and The Mole alum Hannah Burns.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • That has now turned into at least two days off, as Shaw was not present in Chicago's starting lineup on Saturday either.
    Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
  • England internationals past and present, including Alex Greenwood, Leah Williamson and Rachel Daly, have spoken of its impact on them.
    Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize safety when enjoying the surf.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025
  • Authorities were urging residents in the vicinity to stay vigilant and exercise caution as the situation develops.
    Stepheny Price , Bradford Betz , Landon Mion , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Bedford remembers the 20 hometown men who lost their lives in the battle and its immediate aftermath through observances, memorials and the National D-Day Memorial.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 5 July 2025
  • As is standard practice, U.S. stock markets will be closed on Friday in observance of Independence Day.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • His parents were Eastern European Jewish and mildly observant, and his father Samuel embodied an unusual mix of being a well-read, well-informed, amateur inventor/butcher/grocer.
    Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025
  • His son, more attentive than him, more observant than even his wife.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Observing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observing. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on observing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!