OBSERVE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does observe mean? 

• OBSERVE (verb)
  The verb OBSERVE has 9 senses:

1. discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

2. make mention of

3. observe with care or pay close attention to

4. watch attentively

5. show respect towards

6. behave as expected during of holidays or rites

7. follow with the eyes or the mind

8. stick to correctly or closely

9. conform one's action or practice to

  Familiarity information: OBSERVE used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OBSERVE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

detect; discover; find; notice; observe

Context example:

We found traces of lead in the paint

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)

observance (the act of noticing or paying attention)

observable (capable of being seen or noticed)

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make mention of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

mention; note; observe; remark

Context example:

They noted that it was a fine day to go sailing

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

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

note; observe; take note

Context example:

Take note of this chemical reaction

"Observe" entails doing...:

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

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

observable (capable of being seen or noticed)

observant (paying close attention especially to details)

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 4

Meaning:

Watch attentively

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

Please observe the reaction of these two chemicals

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 5

Meaning:

Show respect towards

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

abide by; honor; honour; observe; respect

Context example:

honor your parents!

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 6

Meaning:

Behave as expected during of holidays or rites

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

celebrate; keep; observe

Context example:

Observe Yom Kippur

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 7

Meaning:

Follow with the eyes or the mind

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

She followed the men with the binoculars

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 8

Meaning:

Stick to correctly or closely

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

keep; maintain; observe

Context example:

I cannot keep track of all my employees

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

observation (the act of making and recording a measurement)

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

observation (a remark expressing careful consideration)

observation (facts learned by observing)

observation (the act of noticing or paying attention)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Conform one's action or practice to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

keep; observe

Context example:

We kept to the original conditions of the contract

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.)

 Context examples 

“You said it was Rudderford,” observed Ham, laughing.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I had now an opportunity of observing him, and found him of a very marked physiognomy.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

But you will observe that I didn’t come back the way I went.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He observed the boy lay down the axe and take up a stout club.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

And in practice again, I observe.

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

The alternative was that someone passing had observed the key in the door, had known that I was out, and had entered to look at the papers.

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

"Miss Eliott is a very sweet girl, and seemed to enjoy herself, I thought," observed Beth, with unusual warmth.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I like to observe all the faces and all the figures.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I observed no one in particular.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

This has been a strange acquaintance, observed Mrs. Morland, as the letter was finished; soon made and soon ended.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)