Observe — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Observe (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. 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"

   similar: adhere (to), comply (with), conform (to), follow, goose-step (to), mind, obey, abide by, fall in with, keep to
   related: defer (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, take, watch
   opposite: defy, disobey, rebel (against)
   near: disoblige, challenge, dare, refuse, renounce, repudiate, direct, lead, brush (off), disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, wink (at), dismiss, pooh-pooh, shrug off, breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate, deride, flout, mock, scoff (at), scorn, mutiny (against), revolt (against), buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand

2. to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony

   "a time when few people in New England observed Christmas"

   similar: celebrate, commemorate, keep
   related: bless, consecrate, sanctify, solemnize, fete, honor, laud, praise, memorialize, remember
   opposite: break, transgress, violate
   near: blow off, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

3. to keep one's eyes on

   "happily spent many hours observing the birds at the backyard feeder"

   similar: eye, follow, watch, have one's eye on
   related: behold, look, perceive, regard, see, view, gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, look on, peer, rubberneck, stare, guard, wake, ward, bird-dog, monitor, study, spy, espy, glance, glimpse, peek, peep
   near: blink, wink

4. to make a statement of one's opinion

   "I think you might be mistaken, he observed"

   similar: allow, comment, editorialize, note, opine, reflect, remark, weigh in
   related: commentate, articulate, express, say, speak, state, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize, conjecture, daresay, guess, speculate, suppose, surmise

5. to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes

   "she observed that the weather had changed again"

   similar: behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, perceive, regard, remark, see, sight, spot, spy, view, witness, get a load of (slang), lay eyes on, set eyes on
   related: identify, make out, pick out, pick up, attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind, study, watch, examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey, glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)
   near: disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over, miss, overlook

6. to take notice of and be guided by

   "generally observes the suggestions of the experts regarding baby care"

   similar: follow, heed, listen (to), mind, note, regard, watch
   related: consider, contemplate, mull, ponder, weigh, comply (with), conform (to), keep, obey, respect, attend (to), hark (to), hear, hearken (to), mark, notice, see
   opposite: disregard, ignore, tune out
   near: brush (aside or off), discount, dismiss, gloss (over), gloze (over), neglect, pass over, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, flout, slight, snub