OBSERVE

observe, keep, maintain

(verb) stick to correctly or closely; “The pianist kept time with the metronome”; “keep count”; “I cannot keep track of all my employees”

note, observe, mention, remark

(verb) make mention of; “She observed that his presentation took up too much time”; “They noted that it was a fine day to go sailing”

note, take note, observe

(verb) observe with care or pay close attention to; “Take note of this chemical reaction”

detect, observe, find, discover, notice

(verb) discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of; “She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water”; “We found traces of lead in the paint”

observe

(verb) watch attentively; “Please observe the reaction of these two chemicals”

watch, observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye on

(verb) follow with the eyes or the mind; “Keep an eye on the baby, please!”; “The world is watching Sarajevo”; “She followed the men with the binoculars”

respect, honor, honour, abide by, observe

(verb) show respect towards; “honor your parents!”

observe, celebrate, keep

(verb) behave as expected during of holidays or rites; “Keep the commandments”; “celebrate Christmas”; “Observe Yom Kippur”

observe, keep

(verb) conform one’s action or practice to; “keep appointments”; “she never keeps her promises”; “We kept to the original conditions of the contract”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

observe (third-person singular simple present observes, present participle observing, simple past and past participle observed)

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

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

(transitive) To take note of and celebrate (a holiday or similar occurrence).

(intransitive) To comment on something; to make an observation.

Synonyms

• (follow a custom): celebrate

Anagrams

• obverse, verbose

Source: Wiktionary

Ob*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Observed; p. pr. & vb. n. Observing.] Etym: [L.observare, observatum; ob (see Ob-) + servare to save, preserve, keep, heed, observe: cf.F. observer. See Serve.]

1. To take notice of by appropriate conduct; to conform one's action or practice to; to keep; to heed; to obey; to comply with; as, to observe rules or commands; to observe civility. Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Ex. xii. 17. He wolde no such cursedness observe. Chaucer. Must I budge Must I observe you Shak. With solemn purpose to observe Immutably his sovereign will. Milton.

2. To be on the watch respecting; to pay attention to; to notice with care; to see; to perceive; to discover; as, to observe an eclipse; to observe the color or fashion of a dress; to observe the movements of an army.

3. To express as what has been noticed; to utter as a remark; to say in a casual or incidental way; to remark.

Ob*serve", v. i.

1. To take notice; to give attention to what one sees or hears; to attend.

2. To make a remark; to comment; -- generally with on or upon. I have barely quoted... without observing upon it. Pope.

Syn.

– To remark. See Remark.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition