Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense witnesses, present participle witnessing, past tense, past participle witnessed
1. countable noun
A witnessto an event such as an accident or crime is a person who saw it.
Witnesses to the crash say they saw an explosion just before the disaster. [+ to]
No witnesses have come forward.
Synonyms: observer, viewer, spectator, looker-on More Synonyms of witness
2. verb
If you witness something, you see it happen.
Anyone who witnessed the attack should call the police. [VERB noun]
It was the quickest swimming lesson I'd ever witnessed. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: see, mark, view, watch More Synonyms of witness
3. countable noun
A witness is someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other event.
In the next three or four days, eleven witnesses will be called to testify.
[Also + for]
4. countable noun
A witness is someone who writes their name on a document that you have signed, to confirm that it really is your signature.
5. verb
If someone witnesses your signature on a document, they write their name after it, to confirm that itreally is your signature.
Ask a friend to witness your signature. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: countersign, sign, endorse, validate More Synonyms of witness
6. verb
If you say that a place, period of time, or person witnessed a particular event or change, you mean that it happened in that place, during that period of time, or while that personwas alive.
India has witnessed many political changes in recent years. [VERB noun]
The year 1886 witnessed the first extended translation into English of the writingsof Eliphas Levi. [VERB noun]
At present, we are witnessing another building boom. [VERB noun]
7. verb [only imper]
You use witness to introduce an example of what you have just been talking about.
[formal]
Americans are generous: witness the increase in charitable giving, even during therecession. [VERB noun]
8.
See be witness to
9.
See to bear witness to
More Synonyms of witness
witness in British English
(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 or her own knowledge
4.
a person who attests to the genuineness of a document, signature, etc, by adding his or her own signature
5. bear witness
verb
6. (transitive)
to see, be present at, or know at first hand
7.
to give or serve as evidence (of)
8. (transitive)
to be the scene or setting of
this field has witnessed a battle
9. (intransitive)
to testify, esp in a court of law, to events within one's own knowledge
10. (transitive)
to attest to the genuineness of (a document, signature, etc) by adding one's own signature
Derived forms
witnessable (ˈwitnessable)
adjective
witnesser (ˈwitnesser)
noun
Word origin
Old English witnes (meaning both testimony and witness), from witan to know, wit2 + -ness; related to Old Norse vitni
witness in American English
(ˈwɪtnɪs)
noun
1.
an attesting of a fact, statement, etc.; evidence; testimony
2.
a person who saw, or can give a firsthand account of, something
3.
a person who testifies in court
4.
a person called upon to observe a transaction, signing, etc. in order to testify concerning it if it is later held in question
5.
something providing or serving as evidence
verb transitive
6.
to testify to
7.
to serve as evidence of
8.
to act as witness of, often, in proof thereof, signing a statement that one has done so
9.
to be present at; see personally
10.
to be the scene or setting of
a hall that has witnessed many conventions
verb intransitive
11.
to give, or serve as, evidence; testify
12.
to testify to religious beliefs or faith
Idioms:
bear witness
Word origin
ME witnesse < OE (ge)witnes, witness, knowledge, testimony < witan, to know: see wise1 & -ness
COBUILD Collocations
witness
credible witness
vulnerable witness
Examples of 'witness' in a sentence
witness
What nobody realised is that they were about to witness a unique piece of sporting history.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is bearing witness to the birth of a myth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many phases of the action could be witnessed from one spot.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The witness says he was concerned about whether the intervention was an abuse of public office.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The team spent two years amassing evidence from witnesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Although you can easily witness the spectacle by boat, be careful.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
But after witnessing her popularity first hand, he was won over.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A witness reported seeing a masked man climb out and run off.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Today, his team announces its full review of the case and is appealing for new witnesses to come forward.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not that we actually witness that last one.
The Sun (2012)
We were concerned that witnesses disagreed about the nature of demand for urgent and emergency care.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Police have interviewed pupils who witnessed the accident in the school grounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We are looking for more witnesses and evidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
All four internationals were seen as witnesses.
The Sun (2010)
They bear witness to what the researchers themselves have observed.
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
Many of them witness terrible crimes that they are powerless to stop.
The Sun (2008)
Witnesses placed him at the crime scenes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Witnesses and defendants can be protected from injustice by robust restrictions.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Two other convicts were in court as witnesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We are encouraging witnesses to come forward.
The Sun (2012)
There must also be a witness present.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
As a doctor he witnesses first hand the deadly toll of this violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The police are reluctant to talk about witness evidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident.
The Sun (2014)
It did not depend on the evidence of witnesses as to how they had understood the document.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But to what is it bearing witness?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He spent days in the pub but only witnessed petty crime.
The Sun (2013)
And where does she get a witness at one or two in the morning when violence is most likely to occur?
Turner, Janine Behind Closed Doors - advice for families with violence in the home (1988)
He added that after the attack a witness had seen two men laughing and talking as they hurried through a park.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To witness this person struggle against and overcome the worst kind of ugliness humanity has to offer was both upsetting and inspiring.
The Sun (2013)
Once the regulator has launched an investigation, it can take years reviewing documents and witness evidence before issuing a warning notice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
witness
British English: witness /ˈwɪtnɪs/ NOUN
A witness to an event such as an accident or crime is a person who saw it.
Witnesses say they saw an explosion.
American English: witness
Arabic: شَاهِد
Brazilian Portuguese: testemunha
Chinese: 证人
Croatian: svjedok
Czech: svědek
Danish: vidne
Dutch: getuige
European Spanish: testigo
Finnish: todistaja
French: témoin
German: Zeuge
Greek: μάρτυρας
Italian: testimone
Japanese: 目撃者
Korean: 증인
Norwegian: vitne
Polish: świadek zeznanie
European Portuguese: testemunha
Romanian: martor
Russian: свидетель
Latin American Spanish: testigo
Swedish: vittne
Thai: พยาน
Turkish: tanık
Ukrainian: свідок
Vietnamese: nhân chứng
British English: witness VERB
If you witness something, you see it happen.
Anyone who witnessed the attack should call the police.
American English: witness
Brazilian Portuguese: testemunhar
Chinese: 目击
European Spanish: presenciar
French: être témoin de
German: mitansehen
Italian: essere testimone di
Japanese: 目撃する
Korean: 목격하다
European Portuguese: testemunhar
Latin American Spanish: presenciar
All related terms of 'witness'
witness box
The witness box in a court of law is the place where people stand or sit when they are giving evidence.
bear witness
to give written or oral testimony
witness stand
The witness stand is the same as → witness box .
expert witness
an expert in a particular field who offers his or her specialized knowledge in a court of law
hostile witness
a witness who gives evidence against the party calling him or her
silent witness
a person who observes but makes no comment on or has no involvement in an action
be witness to
If you are witness to something, you see it happen .
character witness
a witness in a trial who testifies to the accused's general good character rather than providing evidence about the specific offence which has led to him or her being on trial
credible witness
A witness to an event such as an accident or crime is a person who saw it.
Jehovah's Witness
A Jehovah's Witness is a member of a religious organization which accepts some Christian ideas and believes that the world is going to end very soon .
vulnerable witness
A witness to an event such as an accident or crime is a person who saw it.
witness evidence
Evidence is anything that you see, experience, read , or are told that causes you to believe that something is true or has really happened .
witness protection
To give or be protection against something unpleasant means to prevent people or things from being harmed or damaged by it.
witness statement
a formal statement by a witness describing what they saw
witness violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
witness an attack
To attack a person or place means to try to hurt or damage them using physical violence .
to bear witness to
If a person or thing bears witness to something, they show or say that it exists or happened .
witness an incident
An incident is something that happens , often something that is unpleasant .
witness the birth of
You can refer to the beginning or origin of something as its birth .
Chinese translation of 'witness'
witness
(ˈwɪtnɪs)
n(c)
(gen, also in court) 目击(擊)者 (mùjīzhě) (位, wèi)
(to document) 联(聯)署人 (liánshǔrén)
vt
(= see)[event]目击(擊) (mùjī)
(fig, = experience) 经(經)历(歷) (jīnglì)
(= confirm)[signature]联(聯)署 (liánshǔ)
witness for the prosecution控方证(證)人 (kòngfāng zhèngrén)
witness for the defence辩(辯)方证(證)人 (biànfāng zhèngrén)
to be (a) witness to sth为(為)某事的目击(擊)者 (wéi mǒushì de mùjīzhě)
to bear witness to sth表明某事 (biǎomíng mǒushì)
to witness to sth为(為)某事作证(證) (wèi mǒushì zuòzhèng)
All related terms of 'witness'
eye witness
( to crime, accident ) 目击(擊)者 mùjīzhě [ 位 wèi ]
expert witness
( Law ) 专(專)家证(證)人 zhuānjiā zhèngrén
Jehovah's Witness
耶和华(華)见(見)证(證)人 Yéhéhuá Jiànzhèngrén ⇒ She's a Jehovah's Witness. → 她是一位耶和华见证人信徒。 Tā shì yī wèi Yéhéhuá Jiànzhèngrén xìntú.
to witness to sth
为(為)某事作证(證) wèi mǒushì zuòzhèng
witness for the defence
辩(辯)方证(證)人 biànfāng zhèngrén
to bear witness to sth
表明某事 biǎomíng mǒushì
witness for the prosecution
控方证(證)人 kòngfāng zhèngrén
to be (a) witness to sth
为(為)某事的目击(擊)者 wéi mǒushì de mùjīzhě
1 (noun)
Definition
a person who has seen or can give first-hand evidence of some event
No witnesses of the crash have come forward.
Synonyms
observer
A casual observer would have assumed they were siblings.
viewer
The series is watched by around 19 million viewers every week.
spectator
Thirty thousand spectators watched the final game.
looker-on
watcher
A perceptive watcher would have realised something was wrong.
onlooker
A handful of onlookers stood around watching.
eyewitness
Eyewitnesses say that the thieves were armed.
bystander
Bystanders filmed the incident on their phones.
beholder
2 (noun)
Definition
a person who gives evidence in a court of law
Eleven witnesses were called to testify.
Synonyms
testifier
deponent
attestant
corroborator
1 (verb)
Definition
to see, be present at, or know at first hand
Anyone who witnessed the attack is urged to contact the police.
Synonyms
see
I saw a man making his way towards me.
mark
Mark my words. He won't last.
view
The mourners filed past to view the body.
watch
The man was standing in the doorway watching him.
note
Suddenly I noted that the rain had stopped.
notice
People should not hesitate to contact the police if they notice anything suspicious.
attend
I'm not sure what he said – I wasn't attending.
observe
In 1664 Hooke observed a reddish spot on the surface of the planet.
perceive
I perceived a number of changes.
look on
be present at
behold (archaic, literary)
The garden was a joy to behold.
2 (verb)
Definition
to confirm the genuineness of (a document or signature) by adding one's own signature
Ask a friend to witness your signature on the application.
Synonyms
countersign
sign
endorse
The payee must endorse the cheque.
validate
Give the retailer your winning ticket to validate.
idiom
See bear witness
phrasal verb
See witness to something
related words
related adjectivetestimonial
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attend
Definition
to pay attention
I'm not sure what he said – I wasn't attending.
Synonyms
pay attention,
listen,
follow,
hear,
mark,
mind,
watch,
note,
regard,
notice,
observe,
look on,
heed,
take to heart,
pay heed,
hearken (archaic)
in the sense of behold
Definition
to look (at)
The garden was a joy to behold.
Synonyms
look at,
see,
view,
eye,
consider,
study,
watch,
check,
regard,
survey,
witness,
clock (British, slang),
examine,
observe,
perceive,
gaze,
scan,
contemplate,
check out (informal),
inspect,
discern,
eyeball (slang),
scrutinize,
recce (slang),
get a load of (informal),
take a gander at (informal),
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned),
feast your eyes upon
in the sense of bystander
Definition
a person present but not involved
Bystanders filmed the incident on their phones.
Synonyms
onlooker,
passer-by,
spectator,
witness,
observer,
viewer,
looker-on,
watcher,
eyewitness
Synonyms of 'witness'
witness
Explore 'witness' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of endorse
Definition
to sign the back of (a cheque) to specify the payee
The payee must endorse the cheque.
Synonyms
sign,
initial,
countersign,
sign on the back of,
superscribe,
undersign
in the sense of eyewitness
Definition
a person present at an event who can describe what happened
Eyewitnesses say that the thieves were armed.
Synonyms
observer,
witness,
spectator,
looker-on,
viewer,
passer-by,
watcher,
onlooker,
bystander
in the sense of mark
Definition
to observe or notice
Mark my words. He won't last.
Synonyms
observe,
mind,
note,
regard,
notice,
attend to,
pay attention to,
pay heed to,
hearken to (archaic)
in the sense of note
Definition
to notice
Suddenly I noted that the rain had stopped.
Synonyms
notice,
see,
observe,
perceive
in the sense of notice
Definition
to point out or remark upon
People should not hesitate to contact the police if they notice anything suspicious.
Synonyms
observe,
see,
mind,
note,
spot,
remark,
distinguish,
perceive,
detect,
heed,
discern,
behold (archaic, literary),
mark,
eyeball (slang)
in the sense of observe
Definition
to see or notice
In 1664 Hooke observed a reddish spot on the surface of the planet.
Synonyms
notice,
see,
note,
mark,
discover,
spot,
regard,
witness,
clock (British, slang),
distinguish,
perceive,
detect,
discern,
behold (archaic, literary),
eye,
eyeball (slang),
peer at,
espy,
get a load of (informal)
in the sense of onlooker
Definition
a person who observes without taking part
A handful of onlookers stood around watching.
Synonyms
spectator,
witness,
observer,
viewer,
looker-on,
watcher,
eyewitness,
bystander,
sightseer
in the sense of perceive
Definition
to become aware of (something) through the senses
I perceived a number of changes.
Synonyms
see,
notice,
note,
identify,
discover,
spot,
observe,
remark,
recognize,
distinguish,
glimpse,
make out,
pick out,
discern,
behold (archaic, literary),
catch sight of,
espy,
descry
in the sense of spectator
Definition
a person viewing anything
Thirty thousand spectators watched the final game.
Synonyms
onlooker,
observer,
viewer,
witness,
looker-on,
watcher,
eyewitness,
bystander,
beholder
in the sense of validate
Definition
to give legal force or official confirmation to
Give the retailer your winning ticket to validate.
Synonyms
authorize,
endorse,
ratify,
legalize,
authenticate,
make legally binding,
set your seal on or to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of view
Definition
to look at
The mourners filed past to view the body.
Synonyms
look at,
see,
inspect,
gaze at,
eye,
watch,
check,
regard,
survey,
witness,
clock (British, slang),
examine,
observe,
explore,
stare at,
scan,
contemplate,
check out (informal),
behold (archaic, literary),
eyeball (slang),
gawp at,
recce (slang),
get a load of (informal),
spectate,
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned)
in the sense of viewer
Definition
a person who views something, esp. television
The series is watched by around 19 million viewers every week.
Synonyms
watcher,
observer,
spectator,
onlooker,
couch potato (informal),
TV watcher,
one of an audience
in the sense of watch
Definition
to look at or observe closely and attentively
The man was standing in the doorway watching him.
Synonyms
look at,
observe,
regard,
eye,
see,
mark,
view,
note,
check,
clock (British, slang),
stare at,
contemplate,
check out (informal),
look on,
gaze at,
pay attention to,
eyeball (slang),
peer at,
leer at,
get a load of (informal),
feast your eyes on,
take a butcher's at (British, informal),
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned)
in the sense of watcher
A perceptive watcher would have realised something was wrong.