This decade also witnessed the birth of political clubs.
America Past and Present (1995)
What they didn't realise is that they were witnessing the birth of modern hip hop.
The Sun (2009)
Definition of 'birth'
birth
(bɜːʳθ)Explore 'birth' in the dictionary
uncountable noun [with poss]
You can refer to the beginning or origin of something as its birth.
Definition of 'witness'
witness
(wɪtnəs)Explore 'witness' in the dictionary
verb
If you say that a place, period of time, or person witnessed a particular event or change, you mean that it happened in that place, during that period of time, or while that person was alive.