Basic Details
Word: Observed
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Past tense of observe: watched or noticed something carefully. It can also mean said, or followed a rule or custom.
Synonyms: noticed, watched, saw, remarked
Antonyms: ignored, missed, overlooked
How to Spell Observed
Syllables: ob - served
Tricky part: Only a d is added, because observe already ends in e. The s sounds like z but is written s.
Watch out for: obzerved, observd, obsearved
Memory tip: Observe already owns the e, so just tack on d: observe + d. No second e, no missing e.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Meena observed a line of ants carrying crumbs into a crack.
Example 2: Two minutes' silence was observed in memory of the soldiers.
Example 3: 'You look tired,' my aunt observed at breakfast.
Fun Fact
In January 1610 Galileo observed four moons circling Jupiter through his telescope. They are still called the Galilean moons.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word observed as it is used in the sentence:
The guard observed every car that entered the gate and noted its number.
a) noticed
b) watched
c) inspected
d) ignored
Show answer
d) ignored. Watched, noticed and inspected all describe the guard's careful look; ignored is the reverse.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
obsserved
a) r
b) b
c) s
d) d
Show answer
c) s. Observe has a single s after the b.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the only misspelt word:
1. deciphered 2. hesitated 3. contradicted 4. obsurved
a) worked out the meaning of something hard to read
b) said the opposite of what someone else said
c) watched or noticed something carefully
d) paused before doing or saying something
Show answer
c) watched or noticed something carefully. Obsurved has a u where observe has an e.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. With the naked eye, a person can observe ____.
a) a virus
b) an atom
c) the Moon
d) radio waves
Show answer
c) the Moon
2. The festival is observed every year in March. What happens to the festival?
a) it is postponed
b) it is celebrated
c) it is watched on TV only
d) it is cancelled
Show answer
b) it is celebrated
