B2verb 1K

Observe

🇬🇧 UK /["/əbˈzɜːv/","/əbˈzɜːvz/","/əbˈzɜːvd/","/əbˈzɜːvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/əbˈzɜːrv/","/əbˈzɜːrvz/","/əbˈzɜːrvd/","/əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/"]/

Meaning of Observe

to see or notice somebody/something

In simple words: to watch something carefully

Observe in a sentence

• Please observe the changes in the experiment carefully.
• As a wildlife photographer, I love to observe animals in their natural habitat.
• If you observe the stars long enough, you might see a shooting star.
• During the meeting, he took a moment to observe the reactions of his colleagues.
• It's important to observe safety protocols when working with hazardous materials.

How to use Observe

Use 'observe' when you are watching something closely or carefully. It is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it may not be suitable for casual conversations where simpler words like 'watch' may work better.

Grammar pattern

observe + object

Memory hint

Think of 'observe' as 'eye-s observe'. Imagine putting your eyes on something closely.

Related words

Collocations with Observe

• carefully
• closely
• precisely
• be able to
• be possible to
• be difficult to
• among
• for
• from
• be commonly observed
• be frequently observed
• be widely observed
• carefully
• closely
• precisely
• be able to
• be possible to
• be difficult to
• among
• for
• from
• be commonly observed
• be frequently observed
• be widely observed
• astutely
• correctly
• keenly
• to
• correctly
• faithfully
• scrupulously
• fail to
• failure to observe something

Synonyms for Observe

• monitor
• comment

Opposites of Observe

• ignore
• neglect
• overlook

Common mistakes with Observe

• Confuse with 'abserve' which is not a word.
• Use 'observed' incorrectly with non-actions, like 'observed the chair'.
• Forget the preposition when used with 'something' as in 'observe at the sky' instead of 'observe the sky'.

Frequently asked questions about Observe

What does Observe mean?

to watch something carefully

What is the definition of Observe?

to see or notice somebody/something

How do you use Observe in a sentence?

Please observe the changes in the experiment carefully.

Can you give another example of Observe?

As a wildlife photographer, I love to observe animals in their natural habitat.

What are synonyms for Observe?

Common alternatives include monitor, comment.

What is the opposite of Observe?

Opposite meanings include ignore, neglect, overlook.

What words go with Observe?

It commonly pairs with carefully, closely, precisely, be able to, be possible to, be difficult to, among, for, from, be commonly observed, be frequently observed, be widely observed, carefully, closely, precisely, be able to, be possible to, be difficult to, among, for, from, be commonly observed, be frequently observed, be widely observed, astutely, correctly, keenly, to, correctly, faithfully, scrupulously, fail to, failure to observe something.

What are common mistakes when using Observe?

Confuse with 'abserve' which is not a word. Use 'observed' incorrectly with non-actions, like 'observed the chair'. Forget the preposition when used with 'something' as in 'observe at the sky' instead of 'observe the sky'.

How do you pronounce Observe?

US: /["/əbˈzɜːrv/","/əbˈzɜːrvz/","/əbˈzɜːrvd/","/əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/"]/, UK: /["/əbˈzɜːv/","/əbˈzɜːvz/","/əbˈzɜːvd/","/əbˈzɜːvɪŋ/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Observe?

Use 'observe' when you are watching something closely or carefully. It is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it may not be suitable for casual conversations where simpler words like 'watch' may work better.

What CEFR level is Observe?

"Observe" is at B2 level on the CEFR scale.