witness

[ wit-nis ]

verb (used with object)

1. to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception:

   to witness an accident.

   Synonyms: note, notice, mark, watch, perceive

2. to be present at (an occurrence) as a formal witness, spectator, bystander, etc.:

   She witnessed our wedding.

3. to bear witness to; testify to; give or afford evidence of.
4. to attest by one's signature:

   He witnessed her will.

verb (used without object)

1. to bear witness; testify; give or afford evidence.

noun

1. an individual who, being present, personally sees or perceives a thing; a beholder, spectator, or eyewitness.
2. a person or thing that affords evidence.
3. a person who gives testimony, as in a court of law.
4. a person who signs a document attesting the genuineness of its execution.
5. testimony or evidence:

   to bear witness to her suffering.

   Synonyms: substantiation, confirmation, proof

6. (initial capital letter) a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

witness

/ ˈwɪtnɪs /

noun

1. a person who has seen or can give first-hand evidence of some event
2. a person or thing giving or serving as evidence
3. a person who testifies, esp in a court of law, to events or facts within his own knowledge
4. a person who attests to the genuineness of a document, signature, etc, by adding his own signature
5. bear witness
   1. to give written or oral testimony
   2. to be evidence or proof of testimonial

verb

1. tr to see, be present at, or know at first hand
2. to give or serve as evidence (of)
3. tr to be the scene or setting of

   this field has witnessed a battle

4. intr to testify, esp in a court of law, to events within a person's own knowledge
5. 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

Origin of witness¹

First recorded before 950; (noun) Middle English, Old English witnes originally, “knowledge, understanding”; wit ¹, -ness; (verb) Middle English, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of witness¹

Old English witnes (meaning both testimony and witness ), from witan to know, wit ² + -ness ; related to Old Norse vitni

Synonym Study

See observe.

Example Sentences

The next month, as the Center for Media and Democracy reports, when committee co-chair Liz Cheney announced that Trump had attempted to contact an unnamed witness who was set to testify, Budowich shot back by tweet: “The media has become pawns of the Unselect Committee. Liz Cheney continues to traffic in innuendos and lies that go unchallenged, unconfirmed, but repeated as fact because the narrative is more important than the truth.”

From Salon

Lee McMillion, “improperly obtained” a copy of the Internal Affairs investigation into Colomey’s case, which contained summaries of witness statements.

From Los Angeles Times

Lopez denied any wrongdoing in court filings and is expected to be among the first to take the witness stand in the upcoming civil trial.

From Los Angeles Times

Hollywood star Luke Evans has described the difficulties growing up as a Jehovah's Witness knowing he was gay.

From BBC

Humberto Duran was arrested on suspicion of murder in 1993, implicated by a teenage witness who since recanted her account.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attend
• mark
• note
• notice
• see
• watch