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Definition of observer noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

observer

noun
 
/əbˈzɜːvə(r)/
 
/əbˈzɜːrvər/
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  1. a person who watches somebody/something
    • According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off.
    • To the casual observer (= somebody who does not pay much attention), the system appears confusing.
    • Most art forms require a contribution from the observer.
    Synonyms witnesswitnessobserver onlooker passer-by bystander eyewitnessThese are all words for a person who sees something happen.witness a person who sees something happen and is able to describe it to other people; a person who gives evidence in a court of law:
    • Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident.
    observer a person who sees something happen:
    • According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off.
    onlooker a person who watches something that is happening but is not involved in it:
    • A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash.
    passer-by a person who is going past somebody/​something by chance, especially when something unexpected happens:
    • Police asked passers-by if they had witnessed the accident.
    bystander a person who is near and can see what is happening when something such as an accident or fight takes place:
    • Three innocent bystanders were killed in the crossfire.
    eyewitness a person who has seen a crime or accident and can describe it afterwards.
    Patterns
    • a witness/​an observer/​an onlooker/​a passer-by/​a bystander/​an eyewitness sees something
    • an observer/​an onlooker/​a passer-by/​a bystander witnesses something
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • casual
    • informed
    • knowledgeable
    verb + observer
    • send
    • attend something as
    • impress
    observer + verb
    • see something
    • note something
    • say something
    phrases
    • status
    • bias
    preposition
    • as an observer
    • observer of
    phrases
    • lead observers to conclude, suggest, etc. something
    See full entry
  2. a person who attends a meeting, lesson, etc. to listen and watch but not to take part
    • A team of British officials were sent as observers to the conference.
    Extra Examples
    • Independent observers will monitor the elections.
    • The country was granted observer status at the summit.
    • The talks were attended by observers from eight Arab countries and Israel.
    • Observers noted an absence of the violence which had been a feature of previous elections.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • casual
    • informed
    • knowledgeable
    verb + observer
    • send
    • attend something as
    • impress
    observer + verb
    • see something
    • note something
    • say something
    phrases
    • status
    • bias
    preposition
    • as an observer
    • observer of
    phrases
    • lead observers to conclude, suggest, etc. something
    See full entry
  3. a person who watches and studies particular events, situations, etc. and is therefore considered to be an expert on them
    • a royal observer
    Extra Examples
    • Some military observers fear the US could get entangled in another war.
    • To Western observers, their political system is strikingly different.
    • an observer of the American cultural scene
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • casual
    • informed
    • knowledgeable
    verb + observer
    • send
    • attend something as
    • impress
    observer + verb
    • see something
    • note something
    • say something
    phrases
    • status
    • bias
    preposition
    • as an observer
    • observer of
    phrases
    • lead observers to conclude, suggest, etc. something
    See full entry
  4. Word Originmid 16th cent.: from observe + -er.
See observer in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee observer in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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