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as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony a time when few people in New England observed Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word observe different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of observe are celebrate, commemorate, and keep. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

When is celebrate a more appropriate choice than observe?

The meanings of celebrate and observe largely overlap; however, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

When is it sensible to use commemorate instead of observe?

Although the words commemorate and observe have much in common, commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

When could keep be used to replace observe?

While the synonyms keep and observe are close in meaning, keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of observe Oklahoma! represents a nostalgia for an America that never existed, as Hart observes. Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025 The message is clear that he is justified in his actions and need not observe the law. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025 The researcher has submitted a proposal to use the $10 billion space telescope to observe our central supermassive black hole for an uninterrupted 24 hours. Robert Lea, Space.com, 18 Feb. 2025 The arrest and detentions are separate from a DEA operation ABC News also observed in Denver that day while accompanying ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. Jeffrey Cook, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for observe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observe
Verb
  • If our nation doled out awards for integrity in politics, two would have gone to Attorney General Elliot Richardson and his deputy, William Ruckelshaus, who resigned in 1974 rather than obey a criminal president’s order to fire the Watergate special prosecutor.
    Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2025
  • But given the stunning turnaround Gates has overseen this season, the students could do nothing but obey the coach’s cool request.
    Jim Root, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Set collective benchmarks, whether improving efficiency or patient outcomes, and celebrate those achievements together.
    Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Since then, May 3, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Given the area’s proximity to Missouri, she’s also watched as voters there struggled with more limited access to early and mail-in voting.
    Jonathan Shorman and, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025
  • In the promo – watch it above – Gillis is greeted in the studio by cast member Ashley Padilla, who tries to reassure the host that the cast is fully recovered from the big party and ready to play.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The development department at the Kennedy Center has a staff of roughly 70, a number that reflects the scope and significance of the fund-raising effort but also one that is likely to draw some scrutiny from a White House whose willingness to cull staff has been more than aggressive.
    Robin Pogrebin, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Customers now seek brands that reflect their values and invest in meaningful, long-term connections.
    Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But in the past two years, users have begun to notice advertisements for the casino taking up a sizable amount of space online.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Upon following up with the participants two weeks later, Rodriguez noticed that those who practiced cognitive reappraisal writing tasks experienced significantly less conflict, aggression and disagreements in their romantic relationship.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Typically, following a mass law enforcement action, there are pending criminal charges accessible in the public record.
    Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Macron plans to use his visit to try to insert some steel in Trump’s spine following his latest round of genuflecting to Putin and will appeal to the US President’s highly advanced sense of his own power.
    Stephen Collinson, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The annual Hindu festival commemorates the moment when Lord Murugan received a sacred spear from the Goddess Parvati to defeat evil.
    Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Wahlberg also commemorated the holiday with a photo of him and his children that was snapped during their recent New Years' vacation in St. James, Barbados.
    Sharareh Drury, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • On the other hand, this is expected to be an uncommonly deep draft at running back and teams looking for tailbacks may be eyeing a rookie.
    Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Hawaii has reportedly eyed the idea positively, and rival Candela has its electric hydrofoil vessels already operating in Stockholm, Sweden, with plans for Lake Tahoe in the US, as well as Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.
    Nicole Kobie, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Observe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observe. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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