Observe Definition

əb-zûrv

observed, observes, observing

verb

observed, observes, observing

To be or become aware of, especially through careful and directed attention; notice.

Observed a car leaving the property.

American Heritage

To watch attentively.

Observe a child's behavior.

American Heritage

To notice or perceive (something)

Webster's New World

To make a systematic or scientific observation of.

Observe the orbit of a comet.

American Heritage

To act as an observer.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Observe

From French observer, from Latin observare (“to watch, note, mark, heed, guard, keep, pay attention to, regard, comply with, etc."), from ob (“before") + servare (“to keep"), from Proto-Indo-European *serw- (“to guard"). Cognate with Gothic [script?] (sarwa, “weapons, armour"), Old English searu (“device, design, contrivance, art, cunning, craft, artifice, wile, deceit, stratagem, ambush, treachery, plot, trick, snare, ambuscade, cleverness, machine, engine, fabric, armor, equipment, arms").

From Wiktionary
Middle English observen to conform to from Old French observer from Latin observāre to abide by, watch ob- over ob– servāre to keep, watch ser-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition