Tra từ observe - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

ob·serve [observe observes observed observing] BrE [əbˈzɜːv] NAmE [əbˈzɜːrv] verb transitive
1. (formal)to see or notice sb/sth
•~ sb/sth Have you observed any changes lately?
• All the characters in the novel are closely observed (= seem like people in real life).
•I want you to observe all the details.
•~ sb/sth do sth The police observed a man enter the bank.
•~ sb/sth doing sth They observed him entering the bank.
•~ that… She observed that all the chairs were already occupied.
•be observed to do sth He was observed to follow her closely. This pattern is only used in the passive.
2. transitive, intransitive (formal)to watch sb/sth carefully, especially to learn more about them
Syn: ↑monitor
•~ (sb/sth) I felt he was observing everything I did.
• The patients were observed over a period of several months.
•He observes keenly, but says little.
•~ how, what, etc… They observed how the parts of the machine fitted together.
3. transitive ~ that… | + speech (formal)to make a remark
Syn: ↑comment
•She observed that it was getting late.
4. transitive ~ sth to obey rules, laws, etc
•Will the rebels observe the ceasefire?
•The crowd observed a minute's silence (= were silent for one minute) in memory of those who had died.
5. transitive ~ sth (formal)to celebrate festivals, birthdays, etc
•Do they observe Christmas?
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Middle English (in sense 5): from Old French observer, from Latin observare ‘to watch’, from ob- ‘towards’ + servare ‘attend to, look at’.

Thesaurus:
observe verb
1. T (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal)
•Have you observed any changes lately?
notice • • note • • take sth in • • see • • witness • • detect • |formal perceive •
observe/notice/note/see/detect/perceive that…
observe/notice/note/see/detect/perceive how/what/where/who…
observe/notice/witness sth happen/sb do sth
2. T, I (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal)
•The patients were observed over several months.
watch • • look • |formal contemplate • • regard • • view •
observe/watch/look/contemplate/regard/view (sb/sth) from somewhere
observe/watch what/who/how…
observe/watch/look/contemplate/regard/view (sb/sth) with amazement/surprise/disapproval, etc.

Synonyms:
comment
note • remark • observe
These words all mean to say or write a fact or opinion.
comment • to express an opinion or give facts about sth: ▪ He refused to comment until after the trial.
note • (rather formal) to mention sth because it is important or interesting: ▪ He noted in passing that the company's record on safety issues was not good.
remark • to say or write what you have noticed about a situation: ▪ Critics remarked that the play was not original.
observe • (formal) to say or write what you have noticed about a situation: ▪ She observed that it was getting late.
comment, remark or observe?
If you comment on sth you say sth about it; if you remark on sth or observe sth, you say sth about it that you have noticed: there is often not much difference between the three. However, while you can refuse to comment (without on), you cannot ‘refuse to remark’ or ‘refuse to observe’ (without on): He refused to remark/observe until after the trial.
to comment/note/remark/observe that…
to comment on/note/remark/observe how…
to comment/remark on sth
to comment/remark/observe to sb
‘It's long,’ he commented/noted/remarked/observed.

Synonyms:
look
watch • see • view • observe
These words all mean to turn your eyes in a particular direction.
look • to turn your eyes in a particular direction: ▪ If you look carefully you can just see our house from here. ◇ ▪ She ▪ looked at ▪ me and smiled.
watch • to look at sb/sth for a time, paying attention to what happens: ▪ to watch television ◇ ▪ Watch what I do, then you try.
see • to watch a game, television programme, performance, etc: ▪ In the evening we went to see a movie.
view • (formal) to look at sth, especially when you look carefully; to watch television, a film/movie, etc: ▪ People came from all over the world to view her work.
watch, see or view?
You can see/view a film/movie/programme but you cannot: see/view television. View is more formal than see and is used especially in business contexts.
observe • (formal) to watch sb/sth carefully, especially to learn more about them or it: ▪ The patients were observed over a period of several months.
to look/watch for sb/sth
to watch/observe what/who/how…
to look/watch/view/observe (sb/sth) with amazement/surprise/disapproval, etc.
to watch/see/view a film/movie/show/programme
to watch/see a match/game/fight
to look (at sb/sth)/watch (sb/sth)/observe sb/sth carefully/closely

Synonyms:
notice
note • detect • observe • witness
These words all mean to see sth, especially when you pay careful attention to it.
notice • to see, hear or become aware of sb/sth; to pay attention to sb/sth: ▪ The first thing I noticed about the room was the smell.
note • (rather formal) to notice or pay careful attention to sth: ▪ Please note (that) the office will be closed on Monday.
This word is very common in business English: ▪ Note that the prices are inclusive of VAT.
detect • to discover or notice sth, especially sth that is not easy to see, hear, etc: ▪ The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
observe • (formal) to see or notice sb/sth: ▪ Have you observed any changes lately? ◇ ▪ The police observed a man enter the bank.
witness • (rather formal) to see sth happen: ▪ Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
to notice/note/detect/observe that/how/what/where/who…
to notice/observe/witness sth happen/sb do sth

Example Bank:
•‘It's easy to say that,’ she observed to Michael, ‘but can you prove it?’
•‘You took your time, ’ he observed coolly.
•A similar pattern was observed among Hispanics.
•Failure to observe club rules may result in expulsion.
•It is interesting to observe the reaction of the children to these changes.
•It is not possible to observe this phenomenon directly, but its effects can be seen in the rise in global temperatures.
•It is the parents who actually observe these behavioural problems in their children.
•She correctly observed that there was very little difference between the two parties on domestic policies.
•She stood there, quietly observing the domestic scene.
•The only certainties in this world, as Benjamin Franklin famously observed, are death and taxes.
•The patient should be observed for signs of an allergic reaction.
•This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch.
•This phenomenon has been observed experimentally.
•This procedure must be correctly observed.
•This ritual is commonly observed among several ethnic groups.
•You can learn a lot by simply observing.
•unaware that she was being observed from the window
•All the characters in the novel are closely observed.
•He was observed to enter the bank.
•I want you to observe all the details of the costumes.
•The Area Manager observed that takings were down and decided to pay a visit.
•We observed a two-minute silence for the victims of the bombing.