observant

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

ob·ser·vant

(əb-zûr′vənt)

adj.

1. Having or showing keen perceptiveness; perceptive: an observant traveler; an observant memoir.

2. Diligent in observing a law, custom, duty, or principle: observant of the speed limit.

ob·ser′vant·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

observant

(əbˈzɜːvənt)

adj

1. paying close attention to detail; watchful or heedful

2. adhering strictly to rituals, ceremonies, laws, etc. Also (rare): observative

obˈservantly adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ob•serv•ant

(əbˈzɜr vənt)

adj.

1. quick to notice or perceive; alert.

2. looking at, watching, or regarding attentively.

3. careful in the observing of a law, religious ritual, custom, or the like.

[1425–75; late Middle English < Middle French, present participle of observer. See observe, -ant]

ob•serv′ant•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.	1.	observant - paying close attention especially to details attentive - (often followed by `to') giving care or attention; "attentive to details"; "the nurse was attentive to her patient"; "an attentive suitor"
	2.	observant - quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception observing perceptive - having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment; "a perceptive eye"; "a perceptive observation"
	3.	observant - (of individuals) adhering strictly to laws and rules and customs; "law-abiding citizens"; "observant of the speed limit" law-abiding lawful - conformable to or allowed by law; "lawful methods of dissent"

observant

adjective

1. attentive, quick, alert, perceptive, concentrating, careful, vigilant, mindful, watchful, wide-awake, sharp-eyed, eagle-eyed, keen-eyed, on your toes, heedful An observant doctor can detect depression from expression and posture.
attentive unobservant, vague, distracted, preoccupied, indifferent, negligent, dreamy, heedless, inattentive

2. devout, godly, holy, orthodox, pious, obedient, reverent This is a profoundly observant Islamic country.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

observant

adjective

1. Vigilantly attentive:

alert, open-eyed, vigilant, wakeful, wary, watchful, wide-awake.

Idiom: on the ball.

2. Cautiously attentive:

careful, heedful, mindful, watchful.

3. Tending toward awareness and appreciation:

conscious, heedful, mindful.

Translations

دَقيق المُلاحَظَهقَوِي الـمُلَاحَظَةُ

všímavý

opmærksom

aufmerksam wachsam achtsam

tarkkaavainen

pronicav

jó megfigyelõ

athugull

attento osservatore

観察力の鋭い

잘 지켜보고 있는

pazljivspoštljiv

observant

ช่างสังเกต

dikkatli gözlemci

hay để ý

观察力敏锐的

observant

[əbˈzɜːvənt] ADJ

1. (= watchful) → observador; (= attentive) → atento
the child is very observant → el niño es muy observador

2. (= strict in obeying rules) → observante, cumplidor

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

observant

[əbˈzɜː^rv^ənt] adj [person] → observateur/trice

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

observant

adj

(= watchful) person → aufmerksam, wach(sam), achtsam; that’s very observant of you → das hast du aber gut bemerkt; if you’d been a little more observant → wenn du etwas besser aufgepasst hättest

(= strict in obeying rules) you should be a little more observant of the law → Sie sollten sich etwas mehr an das Gesetz halten

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

observant

[əbˈzɜːvənt] adj (watchful) → che ha spirito d'osservazione
observant (of) (Rel, Law) → osservante (di)

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

observe

(əbˈzəːv) verb

1. to notice. I observed her late arrival.

2. to watch carefully. She observed his actions with interest.

3. to obey. We must observe the rules.

4. to make a remark. `It's a lovely day', he observed.

obˈservance noun

1. the act of obeying rules etc. the observance of the law.

2. the act of observing (a tradition etc). the observance of religious holidays.

obˈservant adjective

quick to notice. An observant boy remembered the car's registration number.

ˌobserˈvation (ob-) noun

1. the act of noticing or watching. She is in hospital for observation.

2. a remark.

obˈservatory – plural obˈservatories – noun

a place for observing and studying the stars, weather etc.

obˈserver noun

a person who observes.

observant

→ قَوِي الـمُلَاحَظَةُ všímavý opmærksom aufmerksam παρατηρητικός observador tarkkaavainen observateur pronicav osservatore 観察力の鋭い 잘 지켜보고 있는 opmerkzaam oppmerksom uważny observador наблюдательный observant ช่างสังเกต gözlemci hay để ý 观察力敏锐的

References in classic literature ?

In some instances, to the quick, observant eye, those linear marks, as in a veritable engraving, but afford the ground for far other delineations.

View in context

Though he was certainly rather bigger than the other men in the room, her anxiety could only have reference to the clever though shy, but observant and natural, expression which distinguished him from everyone else in that drawing room.

View in context

As the door closed on the two, the Sergeant, looking about among the women-servants in his observant way, noticed that while all the rest were merely frightened, Penelope was in tears.

View in context

Pontellier, who was observant about such things, noticed it, as he served the soup and handed it to the boy in waiting.

View in context

In a few moments, a man stood in his presence, who, with a keenly observant look at him, addressed him by his name.

View in context

An army of servants were hurrying to and fro in squadrons in the courtyard and corridors; while Fouquet, who had only that morning arrived, walked all through the palace with a calm, observant glance, in order to give his last orders, after his intendants had inspected everything.

View in context

My companions, however, had been more observant; and, as we rolled along, they discussed between them not only his looks, words, and actions, but every feature of his face, and every article of his apparel.

View in context

He lounged along, smoking a large cigar, keen-eyed and observant, laying up for himself a store of impressions, unconsciously irritated at every step by a sense of ostracism, of being in some indefinable manner without kinship and wholly apart from this world, in which it seemed natural now that he should find some place.

View in context

Observant persons, accustomed to frequent the London parks, can hardly have failed to notice the number of solitary strangers sadly endeavoring to vary their lives by taking a walk.

View in context

She looked about her with observant eyes; not only noticing the tent which had been set up on the grass to accommodate the expected guests, but entering it, and looking at the waiters who were engaged in placing the luncheon on the table.

View in context

It would have been plain, only too plain, to far less observant eyes than Mrs.

View in context

The king of the country was also observant of it, and vowed that he who could discover whence the sounds proceeded, should have the title of "Universal Bell-ringer," even if it were not really a bell.