Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who has personally seen something happen, especially a crime or accident: An eyewitness is someone who directly observes an event and can provide a first-hand account of it.

2. Verb:

   • To see an event happen with one's own eyes: To be present at and visually perceive an occurrence.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The police are looking for an eyewitness to the robbery.
  • Her testimony as an eyewitness was crucial for the prosecution's case.

• Verb:

  • Several tourists eyewitnessed the historic event.
  • Did anyone eyewitness the car leaving the scene?

Advanced Usage

• "Eyewitness testimony/account/report": A formal statement or description provided by someone who saw an event.

  • The jury carefully considered the eyewitness testimony.

• "Eyewitness identification": The process where an eyewitness identifies a suspect from a lineup or photos.

  • The case relied heavily on an eyewitness identification.

Variants and Related Words

• Eyewitnessing (gerund/noun): The act of seeing an event firsthand.
  • The eyewitnessing of the accident left her traumatized.

Synonyms

• Bystander: A person who is present at an event but not involved. (Note: A bystander may or may not be a willing witness.)
• Observer: One who watches or notices something.
• Witness: A broader term for someone who sees an event or has knowledge of it, which can include eyewitnesses.

Related Phrases

• Eyewitness to history: Someone who was present at a significant historical moment.

  • He was an eyewitness to history when the wall came down.

• Reliable/credible eyewitness: An eyewitness whose account is considered trustworthy.

  • The court found her to be a credible eyewitness.

Noun

1. a spectator who can describe what happened

Verb

1. be present at an event and see it with one's own eyes