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
Jurors heard from 34 witnesses, who provided six weeks of brutal and graphic testimony. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025 The driver of the vehicle took off as witnesses helped get the children out of the street, according to police. Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025
Verb
Bad Bunny witnessed and documented an ICE arrest in Puerto Rico, sharing footage of the incident on social media of what appears to be agents detaining people in the street. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 18 June 2025 Hotels are already witnessing changes in traveler behavior due to economic uncertainty. Mark Holzberg, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for witness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witness
Noun
  • Still, Powell’s testimony before the House of Representatives could spell bumpy waters ahead.
    Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 24 June 2025
  • Powell's semiannual testimony to Congress kicks off Tuesday morning, as the central bank leader presents the Fed's monetary policy report to the House Financial Services Committee.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • William Saller, a seasoned entrepreneur, can attest to that.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 23 June 2025
  • Three times uprooted Nataliia Piven can attest to that.
    Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The firemen noticed Pilon, but every time one of them tried to get beyond the protection of the trucks, Barbaro fired at them.
    Sally Ventura June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
  • Empathy means noticing and adjusting expectations without penalizing people for being human. 4.
    Jody Michael, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Another former girlfriend of Combs testified under the pseudonym Jane in court.
    July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025
  • Accounts of what unfolded that night in Moscow have emerged from two of the surviving roommates, who were both expected to testify at trial.
    Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Experts say these failures indicate that the plane could have experienced a catastrophic loss of hydraulic, electrical or engine power while airborne.
    Mika Gröndahl, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 50 mph.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • This means that evidence of the weapons—let alone those carved from mammoth tusks—can serve as vital sources of information on human societal evolution.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 June 2025
  • However, a growing amount of evidence suggests that adding work and other eligibility requirements to social programs fails to do much to actually encourage work.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Unofficial results likely won't be announced by the city Board of Elections until July 1, and the results won't be officially certified until July 14.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 25 June 2025
  • Dragon is the only U.S. spacecraft certified by NASA to take astronauts to the space station.
    Brendan Byrne, NPR, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • And club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is first on the list of those the club would like to see leave before the end of the transfer window.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • Customers deserve to see where their money is going and why, without the complex legal language.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Witness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witness. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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