observing

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparableold-fashioned

   Good at noticing small details and quick to spot things others miss.

   Grammar: Describes a person: an observing child. Observant is more common in modern English.

   Patterns

   • an observing person
   • observing eyes

   The detective was a quiet, observing man who rarely missed a clue.

   Her observing eyes picked up the change in his tone.

   An observing child will often ask why the sky changes color.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   Watching something carefully, often to learn from it or to note what happens.

   Grammar: -ing form of observe; it needs a helping verb or acts as a participle: observing the birds.

   Patterns

   • observing something
   • observing how something works

   The students are observing the plants for any sign of growth.

   By observing the other players, he learned how the game works.

   Observing the clouds, she guessed that rain was near.

3. 3verbtransitiveformal

   Following a rule, custom, law or special day in the proper way.

   Grammar: -ing form of observe; takes an object such as a holiday or a rule.

   Patterns

   • observing a custom
   • observing the law

   Families across the country are observing a minute of silence.

   Drivers should be observing the speed limit near the school.

   They are observing the holiday with a quiet dinner at home.

Common combinations

quietly observing

He sat quietly observing the crowd.

observing the rules

Observing the rules keeps everyone safe.

observing a holiday

The town is observing the holiday with a parade.

carefully observing

The nurse was carefully observing the patient's breathing.

an observing eye

An observing eye notices what a casual glance misses.

Synonyms and how they differ

observant

Observant is the common modern adjective for being quick to notice, while observing as an adjective now sounds a little dated.

perceptive

Perceptive suggests understanding what you notice, not just seeing it, so it is a stronger word for insight.

watching

Watching is the plain, everyday verb and does not imply studying or following a rule the way observing can.

complying with

Complying with fits rules and laws only, while observing also fits customs and holidays.

Opposites

Word family

observe verb

to watch or to follow a rule

observer noun

someone who watches or attends without taking part

observation noun

the act of watching, or a remark

observant adjective

quick to notice things

observance noun

the act of following a rule or custom

Commonly confused: observing or observant?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “observing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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