Definitions for Observe
əbˈzɜrvob·serve

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. detect, observe, find, discover, noticeverb

   discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

   "She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water"; "We found traces of lead in the paint"

2. note, observe, mention, remarkverb

   make mention of

   "She observed that his presentation took up too much time"; "They noted that it was a fine day to go sailing"

3. note, take note, observeverb

   observe with care or pay close attention to

   "Take note of this chemical reaction"

4. observeverb

   watch attentively

   "Please observe the reaction of these two chemicals"

5. respect, honor, honour, abide by, observeverb

   show respect towards

   "honor your parents!"

6. observe, celebrate, keepverb

   behave as expected during of holidays or rites

   "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur"

7. watch, observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye onverb

   follow with the eyes or the mind

   "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars"

8. observe, keep, maintainverb

   stick to correctly or closely

   "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"

9. observe, keepverb

   conform one's action or practice to

   "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"

GCIDERate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. Observeverb

   To be on the watch respecting; to pay attention to; to notice with care; to see; to perceive; to notice; to discover; as, to observe an eclipse; to observe the color or fashion of a dress; to observe the movements of an army; to observe an accident.

2. Observeverb

   To make a remark; to comment; to make an observation; -- generally with on or upon.

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. observeverb

   To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.

   From this vantage point we can observe the behavior of the animals in their natural habitat.

2. observeverb

   To follow the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion.)

   Please observe all posted speed limits.

3. observeverb

   To comment on something; to make an observation.

   The senator observed that the bill would be detrimental to his constituents.

4. Etymology: From observer, from observare, from ob + servare, from serw-. Cognate with, searu.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To OBSERVEverb

   Etymology: observer, Fr. observo, Latin.

   1. To watch; to regard attentively.

   Remember, that as thine eye observes others, so art thou observed by angels and by men. Taylor.

   2. To find by attention; to note.

   If our idea of infinity be got from the power we observe in ourselves, of repeating without end our own ideas, it may be demanded why we do not attribute infinity to other ideas, as well as these of space and duration. John Locke.

   One may observe them discourse and reason pretty well, of several other things, before they can tell twenty. John Locke.

   3. To regard or keep religiously.

   A night to be much observed unto the Lord, for bringing them out of Egypt. Ex. xii. 42.

   4. To obey; to follow.

2. To Observeverb

   1. To be attentive.

   Observing men may form many judgments by the rules of similitude and proportion, where causes and effects are not entirely the same. Isaac Watts, Logick.

   2. To make a remark.

   Wherever I have found her notes to be wholly another’s, which is the case in some hundreds, I have barely quoted the true proprietor, without observing upon it. Alexander Pope, Lett.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. observe

   To observe means to notice or perceive something and register it as being significant. It often involves paying close attention to or studying something carefully, whether it's an object, a process, a behavior, an event, or a phenomenon. It can also refer to obeying or following rules, laws, or religious practices.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Observeverb

   to take notice of by appropriate conduct; to conform one's action or practice to; to keep; to heed; to obey; to comply with; as, to observe rules or commands; to observe civility

2. Observeverb

   to be on the watch respecting; to pay attention to; to notice with care; to see; to perceive; to discover; as, to observe an eclipse; to observe the color or fashion of a dress; to observe the movements of an army

3. Observeverb

   to express as what has been noticed; to utter as a remark; to say in a casual or incidental way; to remark

4. Observeverb

   to take notice; to give attention to what one sees or hears; to attend

5. Observeverb

   to make a remark; to comment; -- generally with on or upon

6. Etymology: [L. observare, observatum; ob (see Ob-) + servare to save, preserve, keep, heed, observe: cf. F. observer. See Serve.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Observe

   ob-zėrv′, v.t. to keep in view: to notice: to subject to systematic observation: to regard attentively: to remark, refer to in words: to comply with: to heed and to carry out in practice: to keep with proper ceremony: to keep or guard.—v.i. to take notice: to attend: to remark.—adj. Observ′able, that may be observed or noticed: worthy of observation: remarkable: requiring to be observed.—n. Observ′ableness.—adv. Observ′ably.—ns. Observ′ance, act of observing or paying attention to: performance: attention: that which is to be observed: rule of practice, a custom to be observed: reverence: homage; Observ′ancy, observance: obsequiousness.—adj. Observ′ant, observing: having powers of observing and noting: taking notice: adhering to: carefully attentive.—n. (Shak.) an obsequious attendant: one strict to comply with a custom, &c.; or Observ′antine, one of those Franciscan monks of stricter rule who separated from the Conventuals in the 15th century.—adv. Observ′antly.—n. Observā′tion, act of observing: habit of seeing and noting: attention: the act of recognising and noting phenomena as they occur in nature, as distinguished from experiment: that which is observed: a remark: performance: the fact of being observed.—adj. Observā′tional, consisting of, or containing, observations or remarks: derived from observation, as distinguished from experiment.—adv. Observā′tionally.—adj. Obser′vative, attentive.—ns. Ob′servātor, one who observes: a remarker; Observ′atory, a place for making astronomical and physical observations, usually placed in some high and stable place; Observ′er.—adj. Observ′ing, habitually taking notice: attentive.—adv. Observ′ingly. [Fr.,—L. observāre, -ātum—ob, before, servāre, to keep.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. observe

   Be aware of, using attention.

   As we drive we always observe as we know we have to be aware and give our attention.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 9, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Accept
   • Sight
   • State
   • Watch

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Observe' in Verbs Frequency: #281

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for Observe »

1. verbose

2. obverse

How to pronounce Observe?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Observe in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Observe in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Observe in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of Observe in a Sentence

1. Lowell Milken:

   The power of recognition is one of the strongest forces for stimulating human and social action. Yes, recognition is a powerful motivator—to those who receive it as well as those who observe it.

2. Kelly Beatty:

   That day's forecast is the one element that can't be determined in advance. It's a simple truth, in the end, the best place to observe the eclipse will be from wherever it's clear.

3. Madhulika Guhathakurta:

   Instead of being able to collect data from one spot or for just a few minutes, this eclipse is providing that window of opportunity to observe the corona over a long period of time, this is also an opportunity to test out novel instruments and our models also to see how well are they working. And it's scientifically important because of this sun, moon and Earth connection.

4. Seth MacFarlane:

   The idea that 'Family Guy' is this cartoon Ouija board that predicts things… I was just watching things happen from afar, i think it’s sort of modern media. The idea that it’s more important to be first than to be right. It’s a strange thing to observe. We write our show the same way as everyone else. We make the same kind of topical jokes that ‘The Simpson’ does, [that] ‘South Park’ does. And you work with what you have whether that be swirling rumors or political [material].

5. Michael Grudi?:

   When we observe stars forming in any given region, all we see are star formation sites frozen in time, stars also form in clouds of dust, so they are mostly hidden.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Observe
2. ^ GCIDE
   https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=Observe
3. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Observe
4. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Observe
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Observe
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Observe
8. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Observe