noun
Uncommon
eyewitness
Eyewitness (noun) means a person who personally saw an event happen and can describe or testify to it. Example: “Police are appealing for eyewitnesses to the crash.”
noun
1
A person who personally saw an event happen and can describe or testify to it.
"Police are appealing for eyewitnesses to the crash."
"An eyewitness account placed the suspect at the scene."
verb
1
To be present at and personally see an event as it happens.
"Several tourists eyewitnessed the collapse of the bridge."
How to use eyewitness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who was actually there and saw it happen, as opposed to hearing about it secondhand.
Common pairings
eyewitness account
eyewitness testimony
eyewitness report
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Word forms
- Plural
- eyewitnesses
- Third person singular
- eyewitnesses
- Past tense
- eyewitnessed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police are appealing for _____ to the crash.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of eye and witness — someone who witnessed something with their own eyes.
Rhymes for eyewitness
See all rhymes for eyewitness →Frequently asked questions
What does “eyewitness” mean?
The word “eyewitness” means a person who personally saw an event happen and can describe or testify to it. In plain terms, someone who was actually there and saw it happen, as opposed to hearing about it secondhand.
How do you use “eyewitness” in a sentence?
Here is “eyewitness” used in a sentence: “Police are appealing for eyewitnesses to the crash.”
What part of speech is “eyewitness”?
Depending on how it is used, “eyewitness” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “eyewitness” a common word?
“Eyewitness” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “eyewitness” have?
“Eyewitness” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who personally saw an event happen and can describe or testify to it.
