Words / B2

uhb-ZURV-uh-bl/əbˈzɜːvəbl/

Observable means able to be seen or measured: an observable change; observable behaviour. Visible is everyday; observation is the noun (already in the dictionary); observe is the verb. Report only observable behaviour in the practical. Mix-up: observant means good at noticing; observation. Do not call a feeling observable without a measure.

Meaning

Able to be seen or measured (observable behaviour; an observable change).

Examples

• “Report only observable behaviour in the psychology practical, not guessed motives.”
• “An observable change in pH still needs a recorded value, which is the measure sense.”

Good to know

observable + noun; empirically observable. Noun: observation. Person: observant. Trap: feeling-as-data. Sciences and methods. Can be seen or measured.

Near in meaning

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