observe

v., -served, -serv·ing, -serves.

v.tr.

1. To be or become aware of, especially through careful and directed attention; notice.
2. To watch attentively: observe a child's behavior.
3. To make a systematic or scientific observation of: observe the orbit of the moon.
4. To say casually; remark.
5. To adhere to or abide by: observe the terms of a contract.
6. To keep or celebrate (a holiday, for example): observe an anniversary.

v.intr.

1. To take notice.
2. To say something; make a comment or remark.
3. To watch or be present without participating actively: We were invited to the conference solely to observe.

[Middle English observen, to conform to, from Old French observer, from Latin observāre, to abide by, watch : ob-, over; see ob– + servāre, to keep, watch.]

observingly ob·serv'ing·ly adv.

SYNONYMS  observe, keep, celebrate, commemorate, solemnize. These verbs mean to give proper heed to or show proper reverence for something, such as a rule, custom, or holiday. Observe stresses compliance or respectful adherence to that which is prescribed: observe the speed limit; observe the Sabbath. Keep implies actions such as the discharge of a duty or the fulfillment of a promise: keep one's word; keep personal commitments. Celebrate emphasizes observance in the form of rejoicing or festivity: a surprise party to celebrate her birthday. To commemorate is to honor the memory of a past event: a ceremony that commemorated the career of a physician. Solemnize implies dignity and gravity in the celebration of an occasion: solemnized the funeral with a 21-gun salute. See also synonyms at see.

verb

1. To perceive with a special effort of the senses or the mind: descry, detect, discern, distinguish, mark, mind, note, notice, remark, see. See knowledge/ignorance, see/not see.
2. To look at or on attentively or carefully: eye, regard, scrutinize, survey, watch. Idioms: have one'skeep aneye on, keep tabs on. See awareness/unawareness, see/not see.
3. To state facts, opinions, or explanations: comment, note, remark. See words.
4. To act in conformity with: abide by, adhere, carry out, comply, conform, follow, keep, mind, obey. Idioms: toe thelinemark. See accept/reject, same/different/compare.
5. To mark (a day or an event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing: celebrate, commemorate, keep, solemnize. See remember/forget.

v

Definition: abide by, obey
Antonyms: break, disregard, ignore, violate

v

Definition: celebrate, commemorate
Antonyms: forget, miss

v

Definition: comment, remark
Antonyms: be quiet, forget

v

Definition: see, notice
Antonyms: fail to see, ignore, miss, overlook

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v. 1. notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.

2. watch (someone or something) carefully and attentively.

observable adj. observably adv.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

IN BRIEF: To look at.

You can observe a lot just by watching. — Yogi Berra, American baseball player, manager and coach of NY Yankees, 14 world series.

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - observere, overholde, iagttage, bemærke
v. intr. - foretage observationer

Nederlands (Dutch)
observeren, signaleren, gewaarworden, bemerken, constateren, opmerken, vieren, zich houden aan

Français (French)
v. tr. - observer, se conformer à, faire observer, faire remarquer, observer (le silence), célébrer (une fête religieuse)
v. intr. - faire une remarque, remarquer, regarder en spectateur, être présent mais passif

Deutsch (German)
v. - einhalten, wahrnehmen, bemerken, beobachten, überwachen, feiern

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - παρατηρώ, κοιτάζω, τηρώ (πιστά), ακολουθώ, κρατώ, διακρίνω, αντιλαμβάνομαι, μένω μέσα στα όρια, διατυπώνω παρατήρηση ή σχόλιο, παρατηρώ

Italiano (Italian)
osservare, rispettare, percepire, notare, rilevare, celebrare, santificare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - observar, considerar, examinar

Русский (Russian)
замечать, наблюдать, соблюдать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - observar, cumplir, percibir, advertir, reparar en, acatar, guardar, celebrar, festejar
v. intr. - hacer observaciones o comentarios sobre, notar, observar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - observera, iaktta, anmärka

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
观察, 遵守, 观测, 注意, 评论

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 觀察, 遵守, 觀測
v. intr. - 注意, 評論

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 관찰하다, 알다, 진술하다, 준수하다, 축하하다
v. intr. - 주시하다, 논평하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 観察する, 気づく, 守る, 述べる, 意見を述べる, 祝う, 執り行う

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يلاحظ, يراقب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮הבחין, ראה, התבונן, שמר, הקפיד, קיים‬
v. intr. - ‮העיר הערות‬

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