{
    "term": "observe",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "observe",
            "heSheIt": "observes"
        },
        "pastSimple": "observed",
        "pastParticiple": "observed",
        "ingForm": "observing"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to see or notice somebody/something",
            "sensetop": "observe somebody/somethingobserve somebody/something do somethingobserve somebody/something doing somethingobserve that…be observed to do something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Have you observed any changes lately?",
                    "contextForm": "observe somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "All the characters in the novel are closely observed *(= seem like people in real life)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I want you to observe all the details."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The patterns observed in our study may represent a general rule."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The police observed a man enter the bank.",
                    "contextForm": "observe somebody/something do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They observed him entering the bank.",
                    "contextForm": "observe somebody/something doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She observed that all the chairs were already occupied.",
                    "contextForm": "observe that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was observed to follow her closely.",
                    "contextForm": "be observed to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is the parents who actually observe these behavioural problems in their children."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She correctly observed that there was very little difference between the two parties on domestic policies."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["carefully", "closely", "precisely"],
                "verb + observe": ["be able to", "be possible to", "be difficult to"],
                "preposition": ["among", "for", "from"],
                "phrases": [
                    "be commonly observed",
                    "be frequently observed",
                    "be widely observed"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to watch somebody/something carefully, especially to learn more about them",
            "sensetop": "observe somebody/somethingobserve somebody/something for somethingobserve how, what, etc…",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He observes keenly, but says little."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I felt he was observing everything I did.",
                    "contextForm": "observe somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The patients were observed over a period of several months."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an observed decrease in rainfall in the area"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The program provided an opportunity to observe the effects of treatment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The cells were observed under a microscope."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The patient should be observed for signs of an allergic reaction.",
                    "contextForm": "observe somebody/something for something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They observed how the parts of the machine fitted together.",
                    "contextForm": "observe how, what, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "You can learn a lot by simply observing."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was unaware that she was being observed from the window."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is interesting to observe the reaction of the children to these changes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She stood there, quietly observing the domestic scene."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "monitor",
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["carefully", "closely", "precisely"],
                "verb + observe": ["be able to", "be possible to", "be difficult to"],
                "preposition": ["among", "for", "from"],
                "phrases": [
                    "be commonly observed",
                    "be frequently observed",
                    "be widely observed"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to make a remark",
            "sensetop": "observe that…+ speech",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She observed that it was getting late."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘It's easy to say that,’ she observed to Michael, ‘but can you prove it?’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘You took your time, ’ he observed coolly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The only certainties in this world, as Benjamin Franklin famously observed, are death and taxes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Area Manager observed that takings were down and decided to pay a visit."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "comment",
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["astutely", "correctly", "keenly"],
                "preposition": ["to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to obey rules, laws, etc.",
            "sensetop": "observe something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Will the rebels observe the ceasefire?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The crowd **observed a minute's silence** *(= were silent for one minute)* in memory of those who had died."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Failure to observe club rules may result in expulsion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This procedure must be correctly observed."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Permission and obligation"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["correctly", "faithfully", "scrupulously"],
                "verb + observe": ["fail to"],
                "phrases": ["failure to observe something"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to celebrate festivals, birthdays, etc.",
            "sensetop": "observe something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Religious festivals were always observed."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Religion and festivals"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːv/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observe__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːvz/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observes__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːvd/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observed__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːvɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observing__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrv/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observe__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrvz/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observes__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrvd/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observed__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ob/observe/observing__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English (in sense (5)): from Old French observer, from Latin observare ‘to watch’, from ob- ‘towards’ + servare ‘attend to, look at’."
}