Meaning & use
observant
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Quick to notice details, changes, or small signs that other people miss.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an observant child, he is very observant.
Patterns
- observant about something
- be observant of something
An observant nurse noticed that the patient's breathing had changed.
She is so observant that she remembers what everyone wore.
If you are observant, you will see a small bird nesting above the door.
adjectivecomparablereligion
Following the rules and customs of a religion carefully.
Grammar: Usually follows a religion or appears before a noun: an observant Jew, observant families.
Patterns
- observant of something
They come from an observant family and attend services every week.
He is observant of the fasting rules during Ramadan.
Word forms
| comparative | more observant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most observant |
Common combinations
- keenly observant
- He is keenly observant of small changes in the weather.
- remarkably observant
- Her remarkably observant remark about the painting surprised the guide.
- an observant eye
- An observant eye would have spotted the mistake.
- observant reader
- An observant reader will notice the clue on page two.
- observant of the rules
- The team is observant of safety rules.
- deeply observant
- A deeply observant writer, she described every detail of the market.
Synonyms and how they differ
- perceptive
- Perceptive stresses understanding what you notice, while observant stresses simply noticing details.
- alert
- Alert describes being ready and awake at the moment, whereas observant is more of a lasting trait.
- attentive
- Attentive suggests paying careful attention to someone or something specific, but observant means spotting details in general.
- watchful
- Watchful suggests guarding against danger, while observant can be neutral or curious.
Opposites
Word family
- observe verb
- to watch or notice carefully
- observation noun
- the act of watching, or a remark
- observer noun
- a person who watches
- observance noun
- the keeping of a law or religious custom
- unobservant adjective
- not quick to notice things
Commonly confused: observant or observable?
observant vs observable
Observable describes something that can be seen or measured, whereas observant describes a person who notices things.
Practice
Thanks to an ______ clerk, the error on the receipt was caught at once.
Choose one answer.
Observant means quick to notice details, so the clerk caught the error. The other adjectives describe the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “observant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.