Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of noticing or paying attention: The process of watching something or someone carefully, often to gain information.
   • The act of observing; taking a patient look: The action of closely examining or monitoring something.
   • The act of making and recording a measurement: The scientific process of noting and documenting a fact or occurrence, often in a systematic way.
   • Facts learned by observing: Information or data acquired through the act of careful watching.
   • A remark expressing careful consideration: A comment or statement based on something that has been noticed.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • His careful observation of the birds led to a new discovery. (The act of noticing)
  • The patient is under observation in the hospital. (The act of monitoring)
  • The scientist recorded her observations in a detailed logbook. (Facts learned by observing)
  • She made an astute observation about the character's motivation. (A remark based on careful consideration)
  • The observation of the star's position was crucial for navigation. (The act of making a measurement)

Advanced Usage

• "To keep someone/something under observation": To watch someone or something closely over a period of time, especially to monitor their condition or actions.
  • The suspect was kept under police observation for 48 hours.
• "Powers of observation": A person's ability to notice and understand things around them.
  • A good detective needs sharp powers of observation.

Variants and Related Words

• Observe (verb): To watch carefully; to notice; to make a remark.
  • We were asked to observe the chemical reaction.
• Observational (adjective): Relating to or based on observation.
  • The study used observational data rather than experiments.
• Observatory (noun): A building equipped for observing astronomical or other natural phenomena.
  • We visited the observatory to look at the stars.

Synonyms

• Monitoring: The act of observing and checking the progress or quality of something over a period of time.
• Surveillance: Close observation, especially of a suspected person or area.
• Remark: A spoken or written comment.
• Finding: Information discovered as the result of an inquiry or observation.

Related Phrases

• Observation post: A position from which soldiers or scientists can watch an area.
  • The soldiers manned the observation post on the hill.
• Clinical observation: The monitoring of a patient's condition in a medical setting.
  • After the surgery, he was moved to a ward for clinical observation.

Idioms

• A keen observer of human nature: Someone who is very good at understanding people's character and behavior through watching them.
  • As a novelist, she is a keen observer of human nature.

Noun

1. the act of noticing or paying attention
   • he escaped the notice of the police
2. facts learned by observing
   • he reported his observations to the mayor
3. a remark expressing careful consideration
4. the act of observing; taking a patient look
5. the act of making and recording a measurement