observe
verb
ob·serve əb-ˈzərv 
observed; observing
transitive verb
1
: to conform one's action or practice to (something, such as a law, rite, or condition) : comply with
failed to observe the law and as a consequence had to pay a fine
2
: to inspect or take note of as an augury, omen, or presage
observed the flight of the sacred geese
3
: to celebrate or solemnize (something, such as a ceremony or festival) in a customary or accepted way
observed Independence Day with a parade
4
a
: to watch carefully especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment
observed the behavior of the children
b
: to make a scientific observation on or of
observed the mating habits of the grouse
5
: to come to realize or know especially through consideration of noted facts
… observed that the indefinite reduction of any given risk to society often brings with it an increase in other risks.
E. L. Zebroski
E. L. Zebroski6
: to utter as a remark
"The paint," she observed, "is already starting to peel."
intransitive verb
1
a
: to take notice
When your teacher is demonstrating something, sit up and observe!
b
: to make observations : watch
Perform your tricks, and we will observe.
2
: remark, comment
In her speech she observed on the changing climate.
observingly
əb-ˈzər-viŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- adhere (to)
- comply (with)
- conform (to)
- follow
- goose-step (to)
- mind
- obey
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The class will be observing the movements of fish. The patient must be observed constantly. Children learn by observing their parents and others. The new teacher will give the lesson today and the principal will observe. We observed a large flock of birds heading north. He observed two children playing with marbles on the street corner. She observed that every man in the room had removed his hat. Few cases of the disease have been observed in humans. See More
Recent Examples on the Web For many of those who stood up against the white supremacists five years ago, the anniversary has been one to avoid, not observe. Teo Armus, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The bill would allow Arizona and Hawaii, which do not observe daylight saving time, to remain on standard time as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 16 Mar. 2022 Hawaii and Arizona are the only two states that don't observe the switch. Editors, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2022 Most of Arizona and all of Hawaii do not observe DST, nor do Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 10 Mar. 2022 Foy said his department sent a wildlife officer out to Morse Avenue, several blocks south of Marconi Avenue, in October, who didn’t observe that level of aggressive behavior. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2022 Indian Standard Time is 10 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Time, and India does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2022 Yet the specifics of how to observe the Shabbat are not found in the Torah (Shabbat 97b). Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2022 Until government data improves, remote work will be tricky to observe directly. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Teo Armus, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The bill would allow Arizona and Hawaii, which do not observe daylight saving time, to remain on standard time as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 16 Mar. 2022 Hawaii and Arizona are the only two states that don't observe the switch. Editors, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2022 Most of Arizona and all of Hawaii do not observe DST, nor do Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 10 Mar. 2022 Foy said his department sent a wildlife officer out to Morse Avenue, several blocks south of Marconi Avenue, in October, who didn’t observe that level of aggressive behavior. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2022 Indian Standard Time is 10 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Time, and India does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2022 Yet the specifics of how to observe the Shabbat are not found in the Torah (Shabbat 97b). Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2022 Until government data improves, remote work will be tricky to observe directly. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French observer, from Latin observare to guard, watch, observe, from ob- in the way, toward + servare to keep — more at conserve
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing observe
Kids Definition
observe
verb
ob·serve əb-ˈzərv
observed; observing
1
: to watch carefully
They observed her behavior.
2
: to act in agreement with : obey
Remember to observe the law.
3
: celebrate sense 1
Next Friday we will observe a religious holiday.
4
: remark entry 2, say
"Those are some big ears he's got, too," observed his uncle Alfred. Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux
Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereauxobserve
verb
1
as in to obey
to act according to the commands of you must observe all the rules of this school, not simply the ones that meet with your personal approval Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- obey
- follow
- watch
- abide by
- keep to
- mind
- hear
- notice
- regard
- conform (to)
- attend
- goose-step (to)
- comply (with)
- take
- adhere (to)
- heed
- note
- fall in with
- mark
- submit (to)
- yield (to)
- accede (to)
- surrender (to)
- agree (to)
- defer (to)
- assent (to)
- acquiesce (to)
- listen (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- defy
- disobey
- dare
- refuse
- ignore
- lead
- challenge
- renounce
- repudiate
- direct
- disregard
- overlook
- dismiss
- rebel (against)
- violate
- break
- tune out
- disoblige
- transgress
- oppose
- resist
- mock
- brush (off)
- flout
- deride
- fight
- infringe
- withstand
- breach
- wink (at)
- pass over
- scorn
- pooh
- combat
- scoff (at)
- dispute
- revolt (against)
- pooh-pooh
- contest
- buck
- overpass
- shrug off
- mutiny (against)
2
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony a time when few people in New England observed Christmas Synonyms & Similar Words
- celebrate
- commemorate
- keep
- bless
- remember
- honor
- consecrate
- solemnize
- sanctify
- laud
- praise
- memorialize
- fete
- fête
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- violate
- break
- ignore
- forget
- overlook
- disregard
- transgress
- neglect
- blow off
3
as in to watch
to keep one's eyes on happily spent many hours observing the birds at the backyard feeder Synonyms & Similar Words
- watch
- eye
- follow
- view
- see
- monitor
- perceive
- stare
- look
- study
- gaze
- regard
- peer
- guard
- behold
- gape
- gawk
- have one's eye on
- look on
- glimpse
- peek
- wake
- spy
- espy
- peep
- ward
- rubberneck
- glare
- goggle
- glance
- bird-dog
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blink
- wink
4
as in to reflect
to make a statement of one's opinion "I think you might be mistaken," he observed Synonyms & Similar Words
- reflect
- remark
- comment
- note
- opine
- say
- commentate
- allow
- speak
- editorialize
- speculate
- tell
- surmise
- state
- talk
- weigh in
- verbalize
- express
- suppose
- vocalize
- articulate
- guess
- daresay
- utter
- conjecture
5
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes she observed that the weather had changed again Synonyms & Similar Words
- notice
- see
- spot
- regard
- eye
- view
- perceive
- watch
- discern
- witness
- remark
- sight
- note
- espy
- distinguish
- spy
- behold
- catch
- descry
- identify
- examine
- consider
- get a load of
- scrutinize
- inspect
- study
- set eyes on
- pick out
- lay eyes on
- look (at)
- heed
- scan
- survey
- glimpse
- mark
- make out
- mind
- pick up
- attend (to)
- glance (at)
- peer (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- disregard
- neglect
- miss
- overlook
- pass over
- overpass
6
as in to follow
to take notice of and be guided by generally observes the suggestions of the experts regarding baby care Synonyms & Similar Words
- follow
- note
- obey
- watch
- regard
- consider
- respect
- heed
- contemplate
- ponder
- hear
- see
- notice
- mind
- listen (to)
- mull
- weigh
- keep
- mark
- conform (to)
- hearken (to)
- comply (with)
- attend (to)
- hark (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- disregard
- dismiss
- tune out
- neglect
- discount
- gloss (over)
- defy
- scorn
- flout
- pass over
- brush (aside or off)
- pooh
- slight
- pooh-pooh
- gloze (over)
- shrug off
- snub
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of observe are celebrate, commemorate, and keep. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.
not all holidays are observed nationally
The meanings of celebrate and observe largely overlap; however, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.
traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner
Although the words commemorate and observe have much in common, commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.
commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths
While the synonyms keep and observe are close in meaning, keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.
kept the Sabbath by refraining from work
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