witness 1 of 2

witness

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verb

1
as in to attest
to declare (something) to be true or genuine a notary public witnessing wills and other important documents

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to testify
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact I witnessed to the fact that I had seen them together that night

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to experience
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it war changes anyone who has ever witnessed it first hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb witness contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of witness are attest, certify, and vouch. While all these words mean "to testify to the truth or genuineness of something," witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

witnessed the signing of the will

When can attest be used instead of witness?

While the synonyms attest and witness are close in meaning, attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

In what contexts can certify take the place of witness?

The meanings of certify and witness largely overlap; however, certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

When could vouch be used to replace witness?

In some situations, the words vouch and witness are roughly equivalent. However, vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

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 witness
Noun
Any witnesses or drivers who were in the area with dashboard camera recordings have been asked to contact Trooper Jack Goncalves at 203-267-2200 or Jack.Goncalves@ct.gov. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2025 Jones later left the scene on foot, witnesses said. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025
Verb
Georgia’s son Austin, who was playing hide-and-seek and hiding in the closet of Tom’s room, witnessed his mom smother Tom with a pillow. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 Austin shot his dad to protect Georgia and witnessed his mom suffocate Tom. Erin Jensen, USA Today, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for witness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witness
Noun
  • Lawmakers will hear testimony from Democratic Govs.
    The Hill Staff, The Hill, 12 June 2025
  • Prior to Jane’s testimony resuming, the defense and prosecution sparred over whether to publicly name some people who might come up in cross.
    Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • But as the grieving families of the passengers aboard the Air India flight could attest, loss of life is much worse.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 13 June 2025
  • Thus, colleges should attest to their job placement rates and should have to answer accordingly if not high enough.
    Nick Ladany, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • La Rue claims Leto was observing her so intensely that her mother noticed.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
  • Build space into your schedule to notice these things.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • Although a strong past supporter, Gov. Maura Healey will not be among those testifying on behalf of District Court Judge Shelley Joseph on Monday.
    Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Scott testified that Serafini told her not to tell his wife about their plans that weekend.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Despite a decline in boating incidents, the state has experienced a rash of fatalities in recent years, with a peak of seven fatal boating incidents in 2022 resulting in nine fatalities.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025
  • The park experiences a very short dry season compared to the rest of Costa Rica, resulting in up to nearly 80 inches of rain annually.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • The defense, however, repeatedly argued during the trial that Kaja never met Weinstein in 2002, pointing to a lack of evidence — such as writings or photographs — showing the two together that year.
    Michaela Zee, Variety, 14 June 2025
  • The Yankees challenged the call, but replay ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn it.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • When Culture Change Becomes A Game Everyone Knows How To Play Are you certified in pretending to learn while multitasking?
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • Sometime Beatle publicist Derek Taylor pushed the idea that the album certified Brian Wilson as a genius, and this worked wonders for his reputation with British listeners and songwriters.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni told reporters after the match, which finished 1-1, that Messi preferred to come off rather than see Scaloni take off young playmaker Thiago Almada.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 14 June 2025
  • Other parents witnessed the March on Washington, whereas my father saw Jackie Robinson don Dodger blue at Ebbets Field.
    Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 14 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Witness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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