observant
/ˈɒbzərvənt/
attentive and perceptive
She was an observant detective, noticing even the smallest details.
She paid close attention to everything, which helped her solve cases.
general
Attentive and perceptive; quick to notice things.
The teacher was observant and quickly identified the student's learning difficulties.
The teacher noticed the student's struggles early on.
Often used to describe someone who pays close attention to their surroundings or others' behavior.
Collocations
be observantto pay close attentionan observant personsomeone who notices details
Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use 'observant' to describe someone who notices details, but avoid overusing it in formal contexts where 'attentive' might be more appropriate.
Word Origin
From Old French 'observant,' from Latin 'observare' (to observe).
Usage Notes
Can be used to describe someone who is careful in their observations, often in a positive or neutral context.
Word Breakdown
ob-
toward, against
prefix-serv-
to watch, observe
root-ant
having the quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary