1
as in attesting
to declare (something) to be true or genuine
a notary public witnessing wills and other important documents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
witnessed the crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in testifying
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 experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
war changes anyone who has ever witnessed it first hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 witnessing
At least six other incidents of people directly witnessing rapes and gang rapes are outlined in the report, with all of the witnesses describing victims being shot dead.
—
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Watching the pair scheme in crisp shot-reverse-shot carries much of the film’s easy charm, like witnessing a pair of Al Hirschfeld caricatures suddenly brought to life.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Our hearts go out to all those carrying the weight of witnessing and responding to the incident.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Taking a psychological deep dive, is Moses Schneider witnessing his own life?
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Spending several nights in these regions—particularly in the weeks after the eclipse—will vastly increase the odds of witnessing the northern lights.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Attendees reported hearing gunshots and witnessing fights, leading to panic, chaos and crowd surges, police said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Unlike Tina Turner’s enthralling, apex music biopic What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993), watching Michael is like witnessing a daredevil walk a tightrope while wearing a harness over a mammoth, inflatable bounce house.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Smith went on to highlight the significance of the program after witnessing service dogs being stabbed or shot while in the line of duty.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Watching the pair scheme in crisp shot-reverse-shot carries much of the film’s easy charm, like witnessing a pair of Al Hirschfeld caricatures suddenly brought to life.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Our hearts go out to all those carrying the weight of witnessing and responding to the incident.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Taking a psychological deep dive, is Moses Schneider witnessing his own life?
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Spending several nights in these regions—particularly in the weeks after the eclipse—will vastly increase the odds of witnessing the northern lights.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Attendees reported hearing gunshots and witnessing fights, leading to panic, chaos and crowd surges, police said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Unlike Tina Turner’s enthralling, apex music biopic What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993), watching Michael is like witnessing a daredevil walk a tightrope while wearing a harness over a mammoth, inflatable bounce house.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Smith went on to highlight the significance of the program after witnessing service dogs being stabbed or shot while in the line of duty.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witnessing
Verb
-
The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Some rappers have begun directly attesting to the fictional nature of their music.—
Maria Sherman,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Regular practice is key to noticing benefits.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
-
At the same time, your confidence grows and people are noticing.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Elon Musk and Sam Altman had very different experiences while testifying at a trial that will determine OpenAI’s future, including who runs it, where its research funding comes from, and who can profit from its boldest new technologies.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
-
Roza — a woman testifying under her first name — was an aspiring model from Uzbekistan when Epstein abused her in 2009, after the plea deal and while he was supposed to be under house arrest.—
Claire Healy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Such obsession can be a frightening emotion both for the person experiencing it and for the target.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
The Sierra Madre Police Department said the 53-year-old man passed away after experiencing a medical emergency on the trail, and that no foul play was suspected.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The scheme, prosecutors said, involved Readon guaranteeing a loan to refurbish the home in exchange for Fuller signing over the deed to the property and paying Readon a $15,000 fee.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Protecting judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and court staff is fundamental to guaranteeing access to justice, judicial independence, and the upholding of the democratic order.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Hiba imagined seeing snow for the first time and living in a cold state, such as Ohio.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
His absence led to Ben Hutton and Dylan Coghlan seeing elevated minutes, and both handled them well.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Local students have organized service projects including book collections and craft activities for children undergoing treatment.—
Susan Soldavin,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 2026
-
The legal technology industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by advances in artificial intelligence and increasing demand for more efficient, accessible, and cost-effective legal services.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Drummond’s office defended the state law in court but also signed an agreement with the ACLU allowing transgender youth to continue to have access to gender-affirming care while the lawsuit was ongoing.—
The Frontier,
The Frontier,
7 May 2026
-
Some lawmakers also want legislation that could push back on Selig’s offensive by affirming states’ authority to rein in the platforms.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Witnessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witnessing. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
