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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Worship and Ritual

Observe

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/əbˈzɜːv/verbCommon term

In religious studies & theology, observe means: To follow the rules and practices of a religion, or to keep a religious holiday or custom in the expected way.

In Turkish: (dini kurallara) uymak, yerine getirmek, (oruç, bayram) tutmak

How it is used

Common in academic and formal writing: observe Ramadan, observe the Sabbath, observe dietary laws. The adjective observant describes someone who carefully follows religious practice (an observant Jew, observant Muslims), and the noun is observance (religious observance).

Example sentences

  1. Many families observe Ramadan together, even when not every member fasts.

  2. The survey asked how strictly respondents observe dietary laws at home.

Common collocations

  • observe Ramadan
  • observe the Sabbath
  • religious observance
  • observant Muslims
  • RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and give special attention to prayer, charity and reading the Qur'an.
  • SabbathThe weekly day of rest and worship in Judaism, from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall; many Christians use the word for Sunday as their day of rest.
  • fastingGoing without food, drink or certain foods for a set period as a religious practice, for example during Ramadan, on Yom Kippur or in Lent.
  • worshipThe acts of honour, prayer and devotion that believers direct towards God or the divine, either privately or together with others.

More terms: Worship and Ritual

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