observe

The word “observe” means to watch someone or something carefully. In plain terms, to watch closely, to follow a rule or tradition, or to make a comment.

“Observe” is pronounced uhb-ZURV (/əbˈzɝv/ in IPA).

Here is “observe” used in a sentence: “Scientists observed the animals' behaviour for months.”

“Observe” is a verb.

The word “observe” comes from Latin. From Latin observare, "to watch," from ob- ("before") + servare ("to keep, guard").

“Observe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Observe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to watch someone or something carefully.

To observe is to watch someone or something carefully, usually with deliberate attention and often to learn or record information, as a scientist or examiner does. Watch is the everyday, neutral verb and does not necessarily imply careful study. You watch television, but a doctor observes a patient's symptoms.

One sense of observe is to follow or comply with a rule, custom, or celebration, so observing a holiday means marking it according to its customs. Observe is often preferred for solemn or religious occasions, such as observing Ramadan or a minute's silence, while celebrate suggests festivity.

Observation is the noun for watching carefully, and it can also mean a spoken remark, matching observe's senses of watching and commenting. Observance is the noun for following a rule, custom, or religious practice, as in 'the observance of local traditions.' Swapping one for the other is a common mistake.

Yes. One established sense of observe is to make a remark, as in 'she observed that the meeting had run long.' This use is slightly formal and is common in written reports and literature.