Words / B2

YW-itn-uh-s/ˈaɪwɪtnəs/

An eyewitness is a person who saw an event and can describe it: an eyewitness account; eyewitness testimony. As a verb, to see it happen. Witness is the broader legal twin (already in the dictionary); bystander may not have seen clearly; hearsay is second-hand. An eyewitness statement still needs a named time. Mix-up: eyewitness vs eyesight (a backup word, not this id); witness; do not write eyewitness for someone who only heard a rumour.

Meaning

A person who saw an event and can describe it; as a verb, to see it happen.

Examples

• “An eyewitness statement still needs a named time, the crime source said.”
• “To eyewitness an event in the news extract is the verb sense — still name the place and the date.”

Good to know

an eyewitness; an eyewitness account / statement; to eyewitness. Broader: witness (already in B2). Contrast: hearsay / bystander. Trap: eyesight / a rumour. Citizenship and history. Someone who saw the event — quote the time, not a drama caption.

Near in meaning

witness, observer, onlooker

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