ob·ser·va·tion
ˌäb-sər-ˈvā-shən 
-zər-
1
a
: an act or instance of observing a custom, rule, or law
observation of the dress code
b
: observance sense 3
The characters in her novel are based on close observation of her family.
2
a
: an act of recognizing and noting a fact or occurrence often involving measurement with instruments
weather observations
b
: a record or description so obtained
Scientific observations were sent to the committee.
3
: a judgment on or inference (see inference sense 2) from what one has observed
4
obsolete
: attentive care : heed
5
: the condition of one that is observed
under observation at the hospital
observationally
adverb
: designed for use in viewing something (such as scenery) or in making observations
an observation tower
the observation platform
Synonyms
Examples of observation in a Sentence
Noun
I'm not criticizing that kind of clothing. I'm just making an observation about the style.
Her constant observations about the weather bored me.
These facts are based on close observation of the birds in the wild.
Observations made using the telescope have led to new theories.
Some interesting observations came from the study.
He recorded his observations in a notebook.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024
This result was corroborated by amateur observations from across the country during the 2017 eclipse, as part of a project called Life Responds.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
These stakes made eclipse prediction and observation even more important, with scientists dispatched to all corners of the Earth with strict instructions on where exactly to be and which data to record.
—Joshua Sokol, Quanta Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Instilled with the real life protagonists own observations, the film also gains in a sense of authenticity.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The findings were possible thanks to more than a decade’s worth of eclipse observations, according to NASA.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
In the new study, an international team of scientists used data from observations from the SAMI Galaxy Survey.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
In my observation, the key to investing in this generalist approach in early career is mainly psychological; FOMO is real.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
In that long process of observation and recordkeeping, something else happened too: Eclipses helped compel humans to both develop and reveal our inmost capacity for a new and precise kind of reasoning that could be applied to the world.
—Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
Julia Musto, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2021
Noun
The breakdown of recent April 8 cloud-cover observations looks like this:
Fair — 5 days
Partly cloudy — 3 days
Mostly cloudy — 6 days
Cloudy — 10 days
No solar eclipse glasses?
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024
This result was corroborated by amateur observations from across the country during the 2017 eclipse, as part of a project called Life Responds.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
These stakes made eclipse prediction and observation even more important, with scientists dispatched to all corners of the Earth with strict instructions on where exactly to be and which data to record.
—Joshua Sokol, Quanta Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Instilled with the real life protagonists own observations, the film also gains in a sense of authenticity.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The findings were possible thanks to more than a decade’s worth of eclipse observations, according to NASA.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
In the new study, an international team of scientists used data from observations from the SAMI Galaxy Survey.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
In my observation, the key to investing in this generalist approach in early career is mainly psychological; FOMO is real.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
In that long process of observation and recordkeeping, something else happened too: Eclipses helped compel humans to both develop and reveal our inmost capacity for a new and precise kind of reasoning that could be applied to the world.
—Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Other pre-observation activities and further tests are set to be conducted this week.
—Julia Musto, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'observation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near observation
Cite this Entry
“Observation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observation. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
observation
noun
ob·ser·va·tion
ˌäb-sər-ˈvā-shən, -zər-
1
: the noting of a fact or occurrence (as in nature) often involving the measurement of some magnitude with suitable instruments
temperature observations
also
: a record so obtained
2
: close watch or examination (as to monitor or diagnose a condition)
postoperative observation
psychiatric observation
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