observer
noun OPAL W
/əbˈzɜːvə(r)/
/əbˈzɜːrvər/
- a person who watches somebody/something
- According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off.
- To the casual observer (= somebody who does not pay much attention), the system appears confusing.
- Most art forms require a contribution from the observer.
Synonyms witnesswitness- observer
- onlooker
- passer-by
- bystander
- eyewitness
- witness a person who sees something happen and is able to describe it to other people; a person who gives evidence in a court of law:
- Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident.
- observer a person who sees something happen:
- According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off.
- onlooker a person who watches something that is happening but is not involved in it:
- A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash.
- passer-by a person who is going past somebody/something by chance, especially when something unexpected happens:
- Police asked passers-by if they had witnessed the accident.
- bystander a person who is near and can see what is happening when something such as an accident or fight takes place:
- Three innocent bystanders were killed in the crossfire.
- eyewitness a person who has seen a crime or accident and can describe it afterwards.
- a witness/an observer/an onlooker/a passer-by/a bystander/an eyewitness sees something
- an observer/an onlooker/a passer-by/a bystander witnesses something
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- casual
- informed
- knowledgeable
- …
- send
- attend something as
- impress
- …
- see something
- note something
- say something
- …
- status
- bias
- as an observer
- observer of
- lead observers to conclude, suggest, etc. something
- a person who attends a meeting, lesson, etc. to listen and watch but not to take part
- A team of British officials were sent as observers to the conference.
Extra Examples- Independent observers will monitor the elections.
- The country was granted observer status at the summit.
- The talks were attended by observers from eight Arab countries and Israel.
- Observers noted an absence of the violence which had been a feature of previous elections.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- casual
- informed
- knowledgeable
- …
- send
- attend something as
- impress
- …
- see something
- note something
- say something
- …
- status
- bias
- as an observer
- observer of
- lead observers to conclude, suggest, etc. something
- a person who watches and studies particular events, situations, etc. and is therefore considered to be an expert on them
- a royal observer
Extra Examples- Some military observers fear the US could get entangled in another war.
- To Western observers, their political system is strikingly different.
- an observer of the American cultural scene
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- casual
- informed
- knowledgeable
- …
- send
- attend something as
- impress
- …
- see something
- note something
- say something
- …
- status
- bias
- as an observer
- observer of
- lead observers to conclude, suggest, etc. something
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from observe + -er.