1
as in attesting
to declare (something) to be true or genuine
a notary public witnessing wills and other important documents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
witnessed the crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in testifying
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact
I witnessed to the fact that I had seen them together that night
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
war changes anyone who has ever witnessed it first hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of witnessing
If the current trajectory continues, Formula 1 may not simply be witnessing the emergence of another race winner.
—
Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
The main attractions are seeing wildlife in their natural habitats, witnessing events like the Great Migration, and getting to know another part of the world and its people.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
Following her father’s diagnosis in 2014, Georgie spent much of her teenage years witnessing his health steadily decline.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Kyoto is located at 35 degrees north, which is a rather low latitude to be witnessing an aurora since auroral lights are usually confined to the poles — the stronger the solar storm, the closer to the mid-latitudes the lights are seen.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 22 May 2026
Fauolo also showed promise in football, but the 2014 trauma of witnessing a close family member accidentally kill himself with a gun derailed his life, the court filings say.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
The United States is not currently witnessing any demographic imbalances so extreme.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 19 May 2026
Set in 1986, the story follows two brothers, Irwin and Gary Pearl, whose get-rich scheme to help clean up the Gowanus Canal ends in disaster after Irwin (Teller), a nebbish family man, angers Russian mobsters by unwittingly witnessing their criminal activity.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 17 May 2026
There are countless ways to watch the upcoming total solar eclipse—Robb Report has curated a journey in Spain based around the astronomical phenomenon, in fact—but witnessing it from a luxury expedition ship in the remote waters of the Arctic is pinch-yourself stuff.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
The main attractions are seeing wildlife in their natural habitats, witnessing events like the Great Migration, and getting to know another part of the world and its people.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
Following her father’s diagnosis in 2014, Georgie spent much of her teenage years witnessing his health steadily decline.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Kyoto is located at 35 degrees north, which is a rather low latitude to be witnessing an aurora since auroral lights are usually confined to the poles — the stronger the solar storm, the closer to the mid-latitudes the lights are seen.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 22 May 2026
Fauolo also showed promise in football, but the 2014 trauma of witnessing a close family member accidentally kill himself with a gun derailed his life, the court filings say.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
The United States is not currently witnessing any demographic imbalances so extreme.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 19 May 2026
Set in 1986, the story follows two brothers, Irwin and Gary Pearl, whose get-rich scheme to help clean up the Gowanus Canal ends in disaster after Irwin (Teller), a nebbish family man, angers Russian mobsters by unwittingly witnessing their criminal activity.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 17 May 2026
There are countless ways to watch the upcoming total solar eclipse—Robb Report has curated a journey in Spain based around the astronomical phenomenon, in fact—but witnessing it from a luxury expedition ship in the remote waters of the Arctic is pinch-yourself stuff.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witnessing
Verb
-
The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Some rappers have begun directly attesting to the fictional nature of their music.—
Maria Sherman,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The first step is noticing your own reactivity threshold by identifying the precise moment when a partner’s tone, silence or phrasing triggers a flood of feeling that then drives your behavior.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
Despite the brand’s promise of sustainability, shoppers have been noticing fast-fashion tendencies for years.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Elon Musk and Sam Altman had very different experiences while testifying at a trial that will determine OpenAI’s future, including who runs it, where its research funding comes from, and who can profit from its boldest new technologies.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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Roza — a woman testifying under her first name — was an aspiring model from Uzbekistan when Epstein abused her in 2009, after the plea deal and while he was supposed to be under house arrest.—
Claire Healy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The Cubs needed to bring up someone to replace Shaw, who began experiencing discomfort in his back Tuesday.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Busch was coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath on Wednesday while getting ready for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
That opened the door to the Supreme Court ruling that effectively dismantled a key protection of the Voting Rights Act guaranteeing communities of color a chance at fair congressional districts.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
-
No Republican filed to run, all but guaranteeing Rabb’s victory in November.—
Julia Terruso,
Time,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Andy Mitten recently re-completed ‘the 92’ — that is seeing a game at all the current football grounds in England’s top four tiers.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Trump had expressed optimism to the Washington Examiner about seeing the bill on his desk this week.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Samuelson, 33, remains in critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hospital after undergoing eight hours of surgery, according to a Facebook post from LaPorte County Sheriff Ron Heeg.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Lucia and Lisa spent a day undergoing a screening questionnaire at the clinic.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Gender-affirming care for Kansas teens The gender-affirming care ban lawsuit was filed last May, and Folsom’s decision to grant an injunction comes after a two-day evidentiary hearing in November, where plaintiffs shared their stories and the judge heard from both sides’ expert witnesses.—
Matthew Kelly
May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
-
Doe says gender affirming care is a lifeline for her daughter.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Witnessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witnessing. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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