adjective
observant
uhb-ZUR-vuhnt
Observant (adjective) means Quick to notice things; alert and watchful. Example: “An observant shopper spotted the mistake on the receipt.”
adjective
1
Quick to notice things; alert and watchful.
"An observant shopper spotted the mistake on the receipt."
"The observant police officer noticed that my tax disk was out-of-date."
2
Carefully following the rules or practices of a religion.
"They come from an observant Jewish family."
How to use observant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGood at noticing details, or strict about following religious practice.
Common pairings
observant eye
observant of tradition
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more observant
- Superlative
- most observant
Fill the gap
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An _____ shopper spotted the mistake on the receipt.
Etymology
Borrowed from French observant, from the same root as observe.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for observant
See all rhymes for observant →Frequently asked questions
What does “observant” mean?
The word “observant” means quick to notice things; alert and watchful. In plain terms, good at noticing details, or strict about following religious practice.
How do you pronounce “observant”?
“Observant” is pronounced uhb-ZUR-vuhnt (/əbˈzɝvənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “observant” in a sentence?
Here is “observant” used in a sentence: “An observant shopper spotted the mistake on the receipt.”
What is the opposite of “observant”?
The opposite of “observant” — its antonyms — are inobservant, nonobservant, unobservant and unobserving.
What part of speech is “observant”?
“Observant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “observant” come from?
The word “observant” comes from French. Borrowed from French observant, from the same root as observe.
How many meanings does “observant” have?
“Observant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: quick to notice things; alert and watchful.
