witness 1 of 2

noun

ˈwit-nəs How to pronounce witness (audio)
Definition of witnessnext
as in testimony
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim the ruins are a compelling witness of the ancient civilization's cultural and aesthetic achievements

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

witness

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to attest
to declare (something) to be true or genuine a notary public witnessing wills and other important documents

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2
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes witnessed the crime

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to testify
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact I witnessed to the fact that I had seen them together that night

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4
as in to experience
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it war changes anyone who has ever witnessed it first hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb witness contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of witness are attest, certify, and vouch. While all these words mean "to testify to the truth or genuineness of something," witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

witnessed the signing of the will

When can attest be used instead of witness?

While the synonyms attest and witness are close in meaning, attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

In what contexts can certify take the place of witness?

The meanings of certify and witness largely overlap; however, certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

When could vouch be used to replace witness?

In some situations, the words vouch and witness are roughly equivalent. However, vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

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 witness
Noun
The case was also plagued with irregularities and inconsistencies involving witnesses and evidence. —Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025 The vehicle that was struck spun and was sent into a tractor-trailer, the witness told police. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
When totality reached cities across the U.S., schools let out, work was put on hold and people took a moment to witness what was very likely a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic display. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025 Some people in Atlanta witnessed an unfortunate sight on Sunday: a dead horse lying in a bustling area. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for witness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witness
  1. testimony
  2. attest
  3. notice
  4. testify
  5. experience
  6. evidence
  7. certify
  8. see
Noun
  • In another series of studies in the journal Psychology, Crime & Law, researchers found that the use of swear words in (fictitious) legal testimony made the testimony seem more credible to participants than when the same testimony was free of profanity.
    — Stacey Colino, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Prosecutors are seeking to have his testimony precluded the second time around.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of testimony
Verb
  • As as Oklahoma and USC, which suffered the devastating break in JuJu Watkins’ knee injury, can attest, an opponent can only pick its poison against UConn now.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Our staff can attest that Dyson’s cordless vacuums of all types are high-quality, super efficient, and—not to be dramatic—life-changing.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of attest
Verb
  • According to the Miami Herald, a separate guest stayed in the room with Tillman's dead body in the closet, but didn't notice it.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The scenes take place in Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, which is 750 miles to the north, but few viewers would notice the difference.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of notice
Verb
  • The jury’s acquittals were unusual because the Justice Department rarely loses such cases in South Florida — recognized as the nation’s healthcare fraud capital — particularly those involving defendants like the three defendants who pleaded guilty and testified against the co-conspirators at trial.
    — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
  • First responders later testified that Read tried to perform CPR on O'Keefe.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of testify
Verb
  • In 2015, Venezuela began to experience sudden declines in oil prices.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The building’s design is meant to evoke New York’s Gilded Age of the late 19th century, when the city experienced a period of unprecedented wealth and a subsequent boom in skyscraper construction, according to the architects.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of experience
Noun
  • Without rigorous evidence, policy decisions default to ideology and business as usual.
    — Andrew V. Papachristos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The convictions were based on confessions obtained through coercive tactics, despite pretrial DNA evidence that excluded them.
    — Michelle Mbekeani, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of evidence
Verb
  • X-ray techs usually have an associate degree in radiologic technology, pass a licensing test, and get certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
    — Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Newsweek reached out to veterinary professional and certified animal behaviorist Michelle Bernstein to find out if cats can fall in love.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of certify
Verb
  • Comments James Cameron has unveiled the first official footage from Avatar: Fire and Ash, though the general public may have to wait a little longer to see it.
    — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Columbia University was the first college to see its funding slashed – by $400 million – as part of the president’s threats to cut federal money to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023.
    — Samantha Waldenberg, Carma Hassan and Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of see

Phrases Containing witness

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witlessness
witness
witnessed
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Cite this Entry

“Witness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witness. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on witness

Nglish: Translation of witness for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about witness

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