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witness
[ wit-nis ]
verb (used with object)
- to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception:
to witness an accident.
- to be present at (an occurrence) as a formal witness, spectator, bystander, etc.:
She witnessed our wedding.
- to bear witness to; testify to; give or afford evidence of.
- to attest by one's signature:
He witnessed her will.
verb (used without object)
- to bear witness; testify; give or afford evidence.
noun
- an individual who, being present, personally sees or perceives a thing; a beholder, spectator, or eyewitness.
- a person or thing that affords evidence.
- a person who gives testimony, as in a court of law.
- a person who signs a document attesting the genuineness of its execution.
- testimony or evidence:
to bear witness to her suffering.
Synonyms: substantiation, confirmation, proof
- (initial capital letter) a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
witness
/ ˈwɪtnɪs /
noun
- a person who has seen or can give first-hand evidence of some event
- a person or thing giving or serving as evidence
- a person who testifies, esp in a court of law, to events or facts within his own knowledge
- a person who attests to the genuineness of a document, signature, etc, by adding his own signature
- bear witness
- to give written or oral testimony
- to be evidence or proof of testimonial
verb
- tr to see, be present at, or know at first hand
- to give or serve as evidence (of)
- tr to be the scene or setting of
this field has witnessed a battle
- intr to testify, esp in a court of law, to events within a person's own knowledge
- tr to attest to the genuineness of (a document, signature, etc) by adding one's own signature
Derived Forms
- ˈwitnesser, noun
- ˈwitnessable, adjective
Other Words From
- wit·ness·a·ble adjective
- wit·ness·er noun
- pre·wit·ness noun verb (used with object)
- self-wit·ness noun
- self-wit·nessed adjective
- well-wit·nessed adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of witness1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
When the Mountain fire broke out more than two weeks ago, Samuel and Florentino witnessed the all-too familiar hazy, gray sky and the smell of smoke as they harvested strawberries in an Oxnard field.
At the olive press, farmers wait patiently in the yard to witness the transformation of the olives they’ve been able to gather this year into "liquid gold".
During the trial, both sides presented expert witnesses to talk about the tattoo.
Once he reached curfew-bound Lahore, Mahmood was horrified by the bloodshed he witnessed there and decided to stay back in Pakistan and not tour Australia.
On two visits there, the BBC witnessed people struggling to get water.
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More About Witness
What does witness mean?
A witness is someone who was present at or perceives an incident, event, or occurrence, as in Jamal was a witness to the fact that I completed all my homework.
People who witness something typically do so through seeing, although they can also witness a smell or sound. In order to witness an event, one must simply be present at the time the event happened, even if the witness was not directly involved.
To witness something is to see, hear, sense, or know something, as in I witnessed our dog running out the door, but I didn’t see where she went.
To witness is also to testify or give evidence, especially in a court of law.
Example: The key witness in the theft case was a local shop owner.
Where does witness come from?
The first records of the term witness come from before 950. It comes from the Old English term witnes, meaning “knowledge” or “understanding.” One’s wit is their perception and expression of something, so witness means “to have wit about something.”
Witnesses are a key part of the legal system. Both sides can select witnesses to give their accounts of a case, and both sides get to question the witnesses about their statements. There are several types of witnesses. For example, an expert witness is someone who is educated in an area that is important to a case and can give a professional opinion, while a character witness is someone who is familiar with the litigant and can help build an image of their character.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to witness?
- witnessable (adjective)
- witnesser (noun)
- prewitness (noun, verb)
- self-witness (noun)
- well-witnessed (adjective)
What are some synonyms for witness?
What are some words that share a root or word element with witness?
What are some words that often get used in discussing witness?
How is witness used in real life?
Witness as a noun is almost always used in a legal context and as a verb can be used in terms of both legal issues and common occurrences.
Add me on snapchat & check out my stories, witness the madness first hand everyday. Username: lifeofnash
— Nash Grier (@Nashgrier) January 26, 2015
Let’s stay together ’til we’re ghosts. I want to witness love, I’ve never seen it close.
— Austin Mahone (@AustinMahone) July 20, 2014
In mea culpa, #Manafort Judge told jury he was wrong in scolding prosecutors for having expert witness in court to hear other witness testimony. Prosecutors had reminded him he had actually granted approval. "This robe doesn't make me anything other than human," he said
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 9, 2018
Try using witness!
Which of the following is NOT a synonym for witness?
A. see
B. watch
C. hide
D. observe
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