noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:əb-zûrʹvəns
General-American:/əbˈzɝvəns/
Received-Pronunciation:/əbˈzɜːvəns/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH0 B Z ER1 V AH0 N S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The practice of complying with a law, custom, command or rule.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The custom of celebrating a holiday or similar occasion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Observation or the act of watching.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A rule governing a religious order, especially in the Roman Catholic church.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: lifestyle, religion
Examples
Thomas Merton was a monk in the Order of Cistertians of the Strict Observance.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
That which is to be observed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Reverence; homage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
the act of observing; taking a patient look
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: observation, watching
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: look, looking, looking at
Narrower terms: monitoring, sighting, stargazing
8
noun
Meaning 8
conformity with law or custom or practice etc.
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.