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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 Critics say displaying those details may encourage some observing the festival to boycott shops owned by those of another faith – an attack on the secularism enshrined in the constitution. Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 25 July 2025 Since then, astronomers have observed a further 2,000 Type 1a supernovas with different telescopes. Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 July 2025 Using advanced imaging techniques, the researchers observed that, in a mouse intestine, the telocytes use cytonemes to deliver Wnts directly to individual stem cells within the crypt. New Atlas, 24 July 2025 What a $1 Million Lifetime Wage Gap Looks Like Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, observed each July, marks how far into the year this demographic must work to match what white men earned the year before. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for observe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observe
Verb
  • Maybe a different sect says that AI is to be obeyed only if the human heading the sect has first substantiated the AI’s pronouncements.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • In mid-June, the judge found the attorney general in contempt, instructing him to provide her with biweekly updates on how the state was obeying her order blocking enforcement of the immigration law.
    Jay Weaver July 9, Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Traverse City Food & Wine, which will celebrate the region's 50-plus wineries and the peak of Michigan's agriculture season, will take place Aug. 20-24 with a farm-to-table theme.
    Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 25 July 2025
  • Bridgestone Retail Operations donated the van and $100,000 to celebrate Bridgestone's 10-year anniversary with Boys & Girls Clubs.
    The Tennessean, The Tennessean, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • But still showing up at the ballpark, and not participating, watching, that’s a different mindset, psyche than being at home.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 20 July 2025
  • Sims and Reynoso also projected a wildly successful lifestyle on social media displaying expensive vacations, cars, designer clothes and watches to convince potential investors of their credibility.
    Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • Currently, charting songs from ten of those performers equal 50 percent of the all-genre Hot 100 charts' top 20 and 40 percent of the top 50 hits, reflecting Nashville's influence.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 26 July 2025
  • Minimize exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Be aware: white sand and similar surfaces reflect UV rays and increase exposure. 11+: Extreme (extreme risk of harm) Try to avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reapply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Maybe a student is an amateur chef who notices that there are few affordable bakers in the area for parties and community events.
    Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Pankow's absence is noticed on set of the final season, Cline says.
    Julia Moore, People.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Deanna Raybourn’s sequel, which reads fine as a standalone, follows a senior quartet of female assassins who are called back into action to track down a mole within the elite assassin organization, the Museum.
    Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 15 July 2025
  • Microsoft followed a similar playbook with Inflection AI, bringing in CEO Mustafa Suleyman and most of his team while leaving the original company as a shell.
    Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Mentions of trans people were removed from the National Park Service website about the National Monument at Stonewall, commemorating the start of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, an effort initially led in part by trans people.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
  • On July 19, the sovereign prince of Monaco, 67, stepped out at the Place du Palais for a community celebration commemorating the 20th anniversary of his royal reign.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Sign-and-trades could open up additional possibilities, although base-year-compensation rules would complicate that for any restricted free agents who are eyeing a significant raise.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Ro Khanna, who's eyeing 2028, is also trying to force a vote.
    Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Observe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observe. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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