Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

observe

/əbˈzɝv/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.06 in modern English

Syllables: ob-serve
IPA: /əbˈzɝv/

12

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.

Transitive verb

verb

To follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).

Transitive verb

verb

To take note of and celebrate (a holiday or similar occurrence), to keep; to follow (a type of time or calendar reckoning).

Transitive verb

verb

To comment on something; to make an observation.

Intransitive verb

noun

An observation (remark, comment or judgement).

Archaic

Example Sentences

"From this vantage point we can observe the behavior of the animals in their natural habitat."
"She got up before dawn to observe the lunar eclipse."
"“One horse?” interjected Holmes. ¶ “Yes, only one.” ¶ “Did you observe the colour?”"
"An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes."
"Please observe all posted speed limits."
"Some of them have, in fact, given them a theoretical elaboration which for subtlety, refinement, and elegance need make no apologies to the older economics, and which remains faithful to older theorizing in at least one respect, that the tradition of unintelligibility to the layman is scrupulously observed."

Etymology

From Middle French observer, from Old French observer, from Latin observō (“to watch”), from ob- (“before”) + servō (“to keep”), from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to guard”). Cognate with Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐍂𐍅𐌰 (sarwa, “weapons, armour”), Old English searu (“device”).

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: *ser- (guard), observer, observō, *ser-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əbˈzɝv/
British English: /əbˈzɜːv/

Usage

Inflected Forms

observes (present, singular) observing (participle, present) observed (participle, past) observed (past) no-table-tags (table tags) glossary (inflection template) observed (first person, past) observest (archaic, present) observed (past, second person) observedst (archaic, past) observeth (archaic, present) observed (past, singular)

Derived Forms

observance observant observation observational observatory observer

Synonyms

celebrate keep maintain note mention remark take note detect find discover notice

Rhymes With

serve reserve deserve nerve preserve curve conserve swerve verve merv irv serv

Questions

How do you pronounce observe?: The recorded pronunciation is /əbˈzɝv/.
What does observe mean?: To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
Where does observe come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce observe

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