observe
To watch something carefully in order to learn about it.
observe in a sentence
- We sat very still to observe the badgers coming out at dusk.
- Scientists observe the same patch of ice every winter to see how much has melted.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to observe?
- Aoverlook
- Bwatch
- Cignore
- Dmiss
Show the answer
B: watch. The other three mean the opposite of observe.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to observe?
- Astudy
- Bnotice
- Cwatch
- Dignore
Show the answer
D: ignore. The other three mean nearly the same as observe.
Words that mean something similar
watch, study, notice
Words that mean the opposite
ignore, overlook, miss
More words about thinking & learning
- outwit: To beat someone by being cleverer than they are.
- pensive: Quietly thinking hard about something, often looking a little sad.
- perceive: To notice or understand something.
- perplexed: Confused and unable to understand something.
- plausible: Sounding reasonable and likely to be true.
- ponder: To think about something slowly and carefully.
- precise: Exact and completely accurate.
- predict: To say what you think will happen in the future.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test