1
as in to obey
to act according to the commands of
you must observe all the rules of this school, not simply the ones that meet with your personal approval
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony
a time when few people in New England observed Christmas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to watch
to keep one's eyes on
happily spent many hours observing the birds at the backyard feeder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to reflect
to make a statement of one's opinion
"I think you might be mistaken," he observed
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
she observed that the weather had changed again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to follow
to take notice of and be guided by
generally observes the suggestions of the experts regarding baby care
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of observe
Spectators observed a moment of silence at the game.
—
Kristin Wright, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
Kelp Ark’s divers observed these challenging conditions firsthand during an initial post-fire collection trip on Jan. 27.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
Her team’s recent study in Nature Communications reported microalgae growing and reproducing at light levels at or close to the theoretical minimum—far lower than had previously been observed in nature.
—Asher Elbein, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2025
Indeed, Stephen Seiler, a Norwegian sports scientist, has observed that top athletes across a variety of endurance sports spend about 80 percent of their time doing relatively easy training and 20 percent going hard.
—Alex Hutchinson, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for observe
Kristin Wright, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
Kelp Ark’s divers observed these challenging conditions firsthand during an initial post-fire collection trip on Jan. 27.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
Her team’s recent study in Nature Communications reported microalgae growing and reproducing at light levels at or close to the theoretical minimum—far lower than had previously been observed in nature.
—Asher Elbein, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2025
Indeed, Stephen Seiler, a Norwegian sports scientist, has observed that top athletes across a variety of endurance sports spend about 80 percent of their time doing relatively easy training and 20 percent going hard.
—Alex Hutchinson, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for observe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observe
Verb
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Home developers building in very high hazard zones, for example, must obey roofing standards and adhere to siding material rules as well as setback and parking area distances.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
28 Feb. 2025
-
He was found guilty of failing to obey, truthfulness. . . .—
Marc J. Dunkelman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Still, cricket-mad Pakistan has reason to celebrate.—
Betsy Joles,
NPR,
2 Mar. 2025
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While the debutantes and their escorts are the main attraction, the Vienna Opera Ball celebrates Austrian cultural heritage, a source of pride in this country.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Full Time First Looks What to watch: Need a top-level refresher on last season’s NWSL playoffs?—
Emily Olsen and more,
The Athletic,
11 Mar. 2025
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On Monday at 4:31 a.m. the NWS Hanford CA issued a high wind watch valid from Wednesday 8 a.m. until Thursday 11 p.m.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacramento Bee,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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At a Newsweek Horizons event in December, a panel of experts reflected on the last round of U.N. talks in Busan, South Korea, and what's at stake in the next negotiations.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Your partner’s surroundings often reflect their inner world.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been spotted out and about with their three children, and people are noticing their closeness.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
7 Mar. 2025
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Over time, Fineman noticed that Peach was growing more lethargic, agitated, and itchy, which interrupted the peace of his beloved routine.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Three medical experts testified in January that Geyser was no longer a threat to the public following considerable progress.—
Doha Madani,
NBC News,
7 Mar. 2025
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Sam Das, United States, 2024 A young trans woman is chased into a junkyard while being followed home late at night.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The production commemorates the 1875 debut of Ukrainian epic songs and the bandura, a Ukrainian multi-stringed musical instrument.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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What Happens Next On Thursday, the Vatican will commemorate the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis' election—the first time the milestone will be marked with him out of public view, yet still leading the Church.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The 31-year-old PGA Tour pro is teeing off at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, eyeing the $20 million purse.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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The House passed a resolution last month, but its fate now rests with the Senate, which is eyeing significant changes.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Observe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observe. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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