An observation is the act of watching something carefully to learn from it, or the information you gather by watching. When a scientist makes an observation during an experiment, she's noticing specific details about what happens: how the liquid changes color, how quickly the ice melts, or how the plant grows toward the light. These observations become the evidence she uses to understand how things work.

Good observation means paying attention with all your senses: your eyes, ears, touch, and sometimes even smell and taste. A doctor observes a patient's symptoms by listening to their breathing and feeling for a fever. A birdwatcher observes which trees the cardinals prefer. A detective observes tiny clues at a crime scene that others might miss.

The word can also mean a comment or remark about something you've noticed. If your friend makes an observation about how quiet the cafeteria is today, she's pointing out something she noticed. Teachers often ask students to “share your observations” after a class experiment or field trip.

Strong observers notice patterns, changes, and details that help them understand what's really happening. The difference between looking and observing is the difference between glancing at a painting and really studying it to understand what the artist created. Scientists, artists, writers, and inventors all rely on careful observation to do their best work.