Observed Observe I Bank Police Enter Characters Closely

• have you observed any changes lately?
• all the characters in the novel are closely observed (= seem like people in real life).
• i want you to observe all the details.
• the police observed a man enter the bank.

observe

1. to see or notice somebody/something
• Have you observed any changes lately?
• All the characters in the novel are closely observed (= seem like people in real life).
• I want you to observe all the details.
• The police observed a man enter the bank.
• They observed him entering the bank.
• She observed that all the chairs were already occupied.
• He was observed to follow her closely.
• He refused to comment until after the trial.
• He noted in passing that the company’s record on safety issues was not good.
• Critics remarked that the play was not original.
• She observed that it was getting late.
• The first thing I noticed about the room was the smell.
• Please note (that) the office will be closed on Monday.
• Note that the prices are inclusive of VAT.
• The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
• Have you observed any changes lately?
• The police observed a man enter the bank.
• Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
2. to watch somebody/something carefully, especially to learn more about them
• synonym monitor
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/monitor_2
• I felt he was observing everything I did.
• The patients were observed over a period of several months.
• He observes keenly, but says little.
• They observed how the parts of the machine fitted together.
• If you look carefully you can just see our house from here.
• She looked at me and smiled.
• to watch television
• Watch what I do, then you try.
• In the evening we went to see a movie.
• People came from all over the world to view her work.
• The patients were observed over a period of several months.
3. to make a remark
• synonym comment
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/comment_2
• She observed that it was getting late.
4. to obey rules, laws, etc.
• Will the rebels observe the ceasefire?
• The crowd observed a minute's silence (= were silent for one minute) in memory of those who had died.
5. to celebrate festivals, birthdays, etc.
• Do they observe Christmas?

Extra Examples

• ‘It’s easy to say that,’ she observed to Michael, ‘but can you prove it?’
• ‘You took your time, ’ he observed coolly.
• A similar pattern was observed among Hispanics.
• Failure to observe club rules may result in expulsion.
• It is interesting to observe the reaction of the children to these changes.
• It is not possible to observe this phenomenon directly, but its effects can be seen in the rise in global temperatures.
• It is the parents who actually observe these behavioural problems in their children.
• She correctly observed that there was very little difference between the two parties on domestic policies.
• She stood there, quietly observing the domestic scene.
• The only certainties in this world, as Benjamin Franklin famously observed, are death and taxes.
• The patient should be observed for signs of an allergic reaction.
• This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch.
• This phenomenon has been observed experimentally.
• This procedure must be correctly observed.
• This ritual is commonly observed among several ethnic groups.
• You can learn a lot by simply observing.
• unaware that she was being observed from the window
• All the characters in the novel are closely observed.
• He was observed to enter the bank.
• I want you to observe all the details of the costumes.
• The Area Manager observed that takings were down and decided to pay a visit.
• We observed a two-minute silence for the victims of the bombing.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they observe
• he / she / it observes
• past simple observed
• past participle observed
• -ing form observing

Word Origin

• late Middle English (in sense (5)): from Old French observer, from Latin observare ‘to watch’, from ob- ‘towards’ + servare ‘attend to, look at’.