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
Mackey, meanwhile, fled the scene on foot, according to both witnesses. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 25 May 2025 Funding for travel has also been unavailable, meaning prosecutors cannot bring in key witnesses from out of town or set up face-to-face mediation between victims and offenders. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Verb
This nonnegotiable policy of total wardrobe immersion makes perfect sense to those who witnessed his talent on fashion’s biggest stage. —Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 According to The Guardian, PA Media quoted a man named Harry Rashid who witnessed the collision while attending the parade with his family. —Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 26 May 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
  • Katie Strang and Dan Robson have the details from Hart’s testimony.
    — Sam Settleman, New York Times, 31 May 2025
  • Mia responded -- notably more animated and louder than her testimony on Thursday -- by acknowledging that the words were legitimate but insisting that the sentiment was not.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 May 2025
Definition of testimony
Verb
  • The best petite denim skirts Those who have a little less natural height can attest that most skirts purchased are immediately dropped off at the tailor for hemming.
    — Avery Matera, Glamour, 30 May 2025
  • Those of us who haven’t blotted the ’24 Sox out of our membranes can attest that the Rockies are substantially worse for one big reason — there is no Garrett Crochet on the staff to save them every fifth day.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Definition of attest
Verb
  • Other journalists noticed a drop-off in performance for the convertibles, and probably more so than the mild weight gains of just about 100 lbs (45 kg) might suggest.
    — Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
  • Karen Walsh began to notice a change in her husband back in 2017.
    — Jon Hamilton, NPR, 30 May 2025
Definition of notice
Verb
  • Combs’ former employee Capricorn Clark is expected to testify first, followed by two law enforcement officials.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2025
  • Johnson testified to the legislature that COMBAT funding is at the top of the list of issues the budget freeze has caused in the prosecutor’s office.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Definition of testify
Verb
  • The park experiences a very short dry season compared to the rest of Costa Rica, resulting in up to nearly 80 inches of rain annually.
    — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • Parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and other states were all experiencing levels of smoke particulates in the air deemed between moderate and unhealthy the morning of May 31, according to the national air quality map from AirNow.gov.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Definition of experience
Noun
  • The reality of science is that there are different qualities of evidence; some approaches produce data that can speak more definitively than others.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2025
  • Here’s why fraud affecting the credit reporting system is so pervasive, including some of the evidence suggesting fraudsters’ are having success in manipulating the credit reporting industry.
    — Dr. David Maimon, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Definition of evidence
Verb
  • This is the gold standard for certifying the jacket will hold up under adverse conditions and perform as promised.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 30 May 2025
  • That image, and Hawley’s subsequent refusal to certify the results of the Electoral College, would permanently tarnish his reputation, many observers thought at the time.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 May 2025
Definition of certify
Verb
  • Wolff did admit that seeing the positives were difficult, aside from the apparent step in tire management.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • Buy tickets to see your favorite artist and savor an unforgettable concert.
    — Essence, Essence, 2 June 2025
Definition of see

Phrases Containing witness

Browse Nearby Words

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 10 Jun. 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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