OBSERVE

Pronunciation (US):

 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. celebrate, as of holidays or rites
7. follow with the eyes or the mind
8. observe 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)

Meaning:

Discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

detect; discover; notice; observe; find

Context examples:

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

Hypernyms (to "observe" is one way to...):

sight (catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes)

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

Meaning:

Make mention of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

note; remark; mention; observe

Context examples:

She observed that his presentation took up too much time / 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

Meaning:

Observe with care or pay close attention to

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

take note; observe; 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

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; ride herd on; 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

Meaning:

Show respect towards

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

respect; honour; honor; abide by; observe

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"):

tolerate (recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others))

celebrate; lionise; lionize (assign great social importance to)

Sentence frames:

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

Meaning:

Celebrate, as of holidays or rites

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

celebrate; observe; keep

Context examples:

Keep the commandments / celebrate Christmas / Observe Yom Kippur

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "observe"):

commemorate; mark (mark 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

Meaning:

Follow with the eyes or the mind

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

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

Context examples:

Keep an eye on the baby, please! / The world is watching Sarajevo / 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)

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

Meaning:

Observe correctly or closely

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

keep; observe; maintain

Context examples:

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Meaning:

Conform one's action or practice to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

keep; observe

Context examples:

keep appointments / she never keeps her promises / 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