Observe

Meaning

Observe means to watch or notice someone or something carefully, especially in order to learn about or understand it. It can also mean to follow or obey a rule, custom, or tradition.

Pronunciation

/əbˈzɜːv/

Word Forms

• Base form: observe
• Past tense: observed
• Past participle: observed
• Present participle: observing
• Noun: observation
• Adjective: observant
• Adverb: observantly

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

• observe carefully — to watch or examine something with close attention.
• observe a change — to notice that something has changed.
• observe behaviour — to watch how someone or something behaves.
• observe a rule — to follow or obey a rule.
• observe a tradition — to follow or maintain a traditional practice.
• observe closely — to watch something with particular attention.

Example Sentences

• The scientist observed the animals for several hours.
• She carefully observed his reaction to the news.
• Students were asked to observe the experiment and record their findings.
• We observed a significant change in his behaviour.
• The community continues to observe the tradition every year.

Literary Example

Example:

“Observe perpetually.”

— Henry James, advice to Virginia Woolf, as recalled by Woolf

Here, observe means to watch, notice, and pay close attention to the world around you. The expression became associated with James's advice to Woolf to cultivate close observation as part of her development as a writer. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Story Workshop

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