observable

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əbˈzɝvəbəl/ UK /əbˈzɜːvəbəl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
able to be seen or noticed; in physics, a measurable quantity

There was no observable change in the patient's condition overnight.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · able to be seen or noticed;... noticeable perceptible detectable discernible visible apparent evident

Opposites

imperceptible invisible undetectable hidden

Word family

Derived forms observablyobservability

Related forms observe observation observer observant

Etymology

From observe (from Latin observare, 'to watch, heed') plus the suffix -able; observare is from ob- ('over') plus servare ('to keep, watch').

observare Latin servare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# observable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /əbˈzɝvəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /əbˈzɜːvəbəl/

## Meanings
1. able to be seen or noticed; in physics, a measurable quantity

## Examples
- There was no observable change in the patient's condition overnight.

## Synonyms
- noticeable
- perceptible
- detectable
- discernible
- visible
- apparent
- evident

## Antonyms
- imperceptible
- invisible
- undetectable
- hidden

## Derived Forms
- observably
- observability

## Related Forms
- observe
- observation
- observer
- observant

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: observare
- Root: servare

## Etymology
From observe (from Latin observare, 'to watch, heed') plus the suffix -able; observare is from ob- ('over') plus servare ('to keep, watch').

## AI Etymology
Observable is from observe (from Latin observare, 'to watch, heed') plus the suffix -able; observare is from ob- ('over') plus servare ('to keep, watch'). Important recorded forms include observare (Latin) and servare (Latin). The modern sense follows that older lexical line closely. In current use it covers able to be seen or noticed; in physics, a measurable quantity. The wider family includes derived forms such as observably and observability and related words such as observe, observation, observer, and observant.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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