Library / English Dictionary

OBSERVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Stick to correctly or closely

Example:

I cannot keep track of all my employees

Synonyms:

keep; maintain; observe

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

observation (the act of observing; taking a patient look)

observation (the act of making and recording a measurement)

observation (the act of noticing or paying attention)

observation (facts learned by observing)

observation (a remark expressing careful consideration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make mention of

Example:

They noted that it was a fine day to go sailing

Synonyms:

mention; note; observe; remark

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "observe" is one way to...):

say; state; tell (express in words)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

comment; notice; point out; remark (make or write a comment on)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

observation (the act of noticing or paying attention)

observer (an expert who observes and comments on something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Observe with care or pay close attention to

Example:

Take note of this chemical reaction

Synonyms:

note; observe; take note

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

"Observe" entails doing...:

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

observer (a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses)

observation (a remark expressing careful consideration)

observation (facts learned by observing)

observation (the act of noticing or paying attention)

observation (the act of observing; taking a patient look)

observant (paying close attention especially to details)

observable (capable of being seen or noticed)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

Example:

We found traces of lead in the paint

Synonyms:

detect; discover; find; notice; observe

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "observe" is one way to...):

sight; spy (catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes)

Verb group:

discover; find (make a discovery, make a new finding)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

catch out; find out (trap; especially in an error or in a reprehensible act)

sense (detect some circumstance or entity automatically)

instantiate (find an instance of (a word or particular usage of a word))

trace (discover traces of)

see (observe as if with an eye)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

observer (a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses)

observation (a remark expressing careful consideration)

observation (facts learned by observing)

observation (the act of making and recording a measurement)

observant (quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception)

observance (the act of noticing or paying attention)

observable (capable of being seen or noticed)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Watch attentively

Example:

Please observe the reaction of these two chemicals

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "observe" is one way to...):

watch (look attentively)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

track (observe or plot the moving path of something)

reconnoiter; reconnoitre; scout (explore, often with the goal of finding something or somebody)

monitor (check, track, or observe by means of a receiver)

monitor; supervise (keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance)

bird; birdwatch (watch and study birds in their natural habitat)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The customs agents observe the bags for drugs

Derivation:

observation (a remark expressing careful consideration)

observation (facts learned by observing)

observation (the act of noticing or paying attention)

observation; observance (the act of observing; taking a patient look)

observable (capable of being seen or noticed)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Follow with the eyes or the mind

Example:

She followed the men with the binoculars

Synonyms:

follow; keep an eye on; observe; watch; watch over

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "observe" is one way to...):

check; check into; check out; check over; check up on; go over; look into; suss out (examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition)

Verb group:

follow; trace (follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

keep tabs on (keep a record on or watch attentively)

guard (to keep watch over)

invigilate; proctor (watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The children observe the ball

Derivation:

observation (the act of observing; taking a patient look)

observation (the act of noticing or paying attention)

observation (facts learned by observing)

observation (a remark expressing careful consideration)

observer (a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Show respect towards

Example:

honor your parents!

Synonyms:

abide by; honor; honour; observe; respect

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "observe" is one way to...):

accept (consider or hold as true)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

celebrate; lionise; lionize (assign great social importance to)

tolerate (recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 8

Meaning:

Behave as expected during of holidays or rites

Example:

Observe Yom Kippur

Synonyms:

celebrate; keep; observe

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

commemorate; mark (celebrate by some ceremony or observation)

mourn (observe the customs of mourning after the death of a loved one)

solemnise; solemnize (observe or perform with dignity or gravity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

observance (a formal event performed on a special occasion)

observant ((of individuals) adhering strictly to laws and rules and customs)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Conform one's action or practice to

Example:

We kept to the original conditions of the contract

Synonyms:

keep; observe

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

make good (act as promised)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

observance (conformity with law or custom or practice etc.)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Great applause, in which Professor Challenger was observed to join.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I have not observed the quarter-mile posts,” said I.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Jekyll is ill, too,” observed Utterson.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

One thing I observed, which looked well for us: they all got out upon the opposite side from Silver.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

With regard to our transaction, you will no doubt have observed by now that one essential detail is missing.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The rain had ceased for a moment, and I saw the fish play in the waters as they had done a few hours before; they had then been observed by Elizabeth.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

We had gone half a mile, perhaps, when the Champion overtook us, and I could not but observe that the bundle was no longer under his arm.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“By Saint Paul! there appear to be some very worthy and valiant persons among them,” observed Sir Nigel.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He acted every part of an orator, and I could observe many periods of threatenings, and others of promises, pity, and kindness.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

So she cut it off, ate it, and enjoyed it, and when she had done, she thought: “The other must go down too, or else master will observe that something is missing.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)