ENGLISH
REFERENCE

observer

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //əbˈzɝvɝ// UK //ɒbzˈɜːvɐ// ob·serv·er General-service

n. someone who watches or notices something carefully. It can also mean a person who is sent to a meeting or event to watch what happens without taking part.

n. a person who watches or notices something; alternatively, a representative sent to witness proceedings without participating officially. Often used in political or scientific contexts to describe a neutral party.


SIMPLE

The observer watched the birds from a distance.

CONTEXTUAL

International observers arrived at the polling stations to ensure the election was conducted fairly and transparently.

COMPLEX

To a casual observer, the two paintings might look identical, but a trained eye can easily spot the subtle differences in brushwork and color saturation.

Synonyms
Origin

From observe + -er.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'of' when describing someone who watches a specific event or phenomenon.

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