ob·serve
Pronounced:
/əbˈzɚv/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
ob·serves; ob·served; ob·serv·ingMeaning:
1 : to watch and sometimes also listen to (someone or something) carefully [+ obj] ▪ The class will be observing the movements of fish. ▪ The patient must be observed constantly. ▪ Children learn by observing their parents and others. ▪ The story is a closely/well observed [=very realistic] portrait of the city. [no obj] ▪ The new teacher will give the lesson today and the principal will observe.
2 [+ obj] : to see and notice (someone or something) ▪ 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.
3 [+ obj] : to make a comment about something you notice ▪ “The paint,” she observed [=remarked, said], “is already starting to peel.” ▪ Looking around at the shuttered houses, he observed [=commented] that the island was entirely different in the winter.
4 [+ obj] : to do what a custom, rule, law, etc., says you should do ▪ The game will continue only when both teams agree to observe [=follow] the rules. ▪ observing [=keeping] the Sabbath
5 [+ obj] : to celebrate (a holiday) or honor (a person or event) ▪ We'll observe Independence Day at home this year. ▪ They observed a moment of silence to remember their loved ones.
2 [+ obj] : to see and notice (someone or something) ▪ 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.
3 [+ obj] : to make a comment about something you notice ▪ “The paint,” she observed [=remarked, said], “is already starting to peel.” ▪ Looking around at the shuttered houses, he observed [=commented] that the island was entirely different in the winter.
4 [+ obj] : to do what a custom, rule, law, etc., says you should do ▪ The game will continue only when both teams agree to observe [=follow] the rules. ▪ observing [=keeping] the Sabbath
5 [+ obj] : to celebrate (a holiday) or honor (a person or event) ▪ We'll observe Independence Day at home this year. ▪ They observed a moment of silence to remember their loved ones.