witness
gb/wˈɪtnəs/ us/wˈɪtnəs/
B1
English
~ 2700
szemtanú, tanúja lenni valaminek, lát, szemtanúja lenni valaminek, tanú, tanúként aláír, tanúsít
NOUN
B1
1
szemtanú
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a witness to [something]
The witness testified that she saw the suspect leave the building.
A szemtanú azt vallotta, hogy látta, amint a gyanúsított elhagyja az épületet.
Police are looking for witnesses who saw the accident.
A rendőrség olyan szemtanúkat keres, akik látták a balesetet.
Several witnesses reported hearing loud noises before the explosion.
Learner examples
The witness saw the car hit the tree.
A szemtanú látta, ahogy az autó nekiment a fának.
A witness told the police what happened.
Egy szemtanú elmondta a rendőrségnek, mi történt.
The witness gave his name to the police.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'witness' with 'victim'; a witness sees the event but is not necessarily harmed by it.
Meaning
Person who sees an event
Collocations
eye witness
|witness statement
|call a witness
|star witness
Synonyms
observer (More general; does not imply legal context.)
Antonyms
participant (A person involved in the event, not just watching.)
Themes
law
|crime
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Someone who sees something happen, especially an accident or crime.
A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to witness [something]
I witnessed a robbery on my way home.
Hazafelé menet szemtanúja voltam egy rablásnak.
They were lucky to witness such a beautiful sunset.
Szerencsések voltak, hogy tanúi lehettek egy ilyen gyönyörű naplementének.
Many people witnessed the signing of the peace treaty.
Learner examples
I witnessed a car crash yesterday.
Tegnap szemtanúja voltam egy autóbalesetnek.
We witnessed a great football match.
Nagyszerű futballmeccsnek lehettünk tanúi.
She witnessed the birth of her baby brother.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'watch' instead of 'witness' in serious contexts; 'watch' suggests intent, while 'witness' can be accidental.
Meaning
See an event occur
Collocations
witness a crime
|witness history
|witness an accident
Synonyms
observe (Slightly more formal; can imply careful watching.)
Antonyms
miss (To not see or experience something happen.)
Themes
daily life
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To see something happen with your own eyes.
To see something happen, especially an important or unusual event.
NOUN
B2
3
tanú
B1
The witness described the events of that night to the jury.
A tanú ismertette az esküdtszékkel annak az éjszakának az eseményeit.
An expert witness explained the forensic evidence.
Egy szakértő tanú elmagyarázta a kriminalisztikai bizonyítékokat.
The defense lawyer questioned the witness closely.
Learner examples
The witness told the judge what happened.
A tanú elmondta a bírónak, mi történt.
The lawyer asked the witness many questions.
Az ügyvéd sok kérdést tett fel a tanúnak.
The witness spoke in front of the court.
Meaning
Person giving evidence in court
Collocations
witness stand
|expert witness
|call a witness
Synonyms
testifier (Formal and legal; less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
defendant (The person accused, not giving neutral evidence.)
Themes
law
|communication
Definition
Someone who speaks in court about what they saw or know.
A person who gives evidence in a legal trial after swearing to tell the truth.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
4
tanúsít
C1
Usage pattern:
to witness [a document/signature]
She witnessed my signature on the will.
A végrendeletemen tanúként igazolta az aláírásomat.
A lawyer must witness the signing of this contract.
Egy ügyvédnek kell tanúsítania ennek a szerződésnek az aláírását.
Two people are required to witness the marriage certificate.
Learner examples
He witnessed my signature on the form.
Tanúként igazolta az aláírásomat az űrlapon.
The teacher witnessed me sign the paper.
A tanár tanúként igazolta, hogy aláírtam a papírt.
She witnessed the signing of the contract.
Meaning
Formally observe signing of document
Collocations
witness a signature
|witness an agreement
Synonyms
attest (More formal and legal; used in official contexts.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not acknowledge or record an act officially.)
Themes
law
|business
Definition
To see someone sign a paper and then sign it yourself to show it is true.
To be present at the signing of a document and sign it yourself to confirm it was done correctly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
witness
IPA
GB/wˈɪtnəs/
US/wˈɪtnəs/
Syllables & stress
wit - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (wit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: witness
- Plural: witness, witnesses
Verb
- Base: witness
- 3rd Person Singular: witnesses
- Present Participle: witnessing
- Past: witnessed
Word family
Expressions
bear false witness
1/bˈɛɹ fˈɔls wˈɪtnəs/
idiom
formal
Give false evidence about something seen or known
To tell lies about what you saw or know, especially in court.
Examples
- He was accused of bearing false witness during the trial.
- It is a serious crime to bear false witness against someone.
bear witness
1/bˈɛɹ wˈɪtnəs/
idiom
formal
Give evidence or proof based on experience
To tell people about something you saw or know to be true.
Examples
- Several experts will bear witness to the dangers of climate change.
- His injuries bear witness to the severity of the attack.
star witness
1/stˈɑɹ wˈɪtnəs/
fixed phrase
Most important person giving court evidence
The most important person speaking in court about what happened.
Examples
- The prosecution's star witness gave convincing testimony.
- She was considered the star witness in the trial.
in witness whereof
1/ˈɪn wˈɪtnəs wˈɛɹoʊf/
fixed phrase
formal
legal phrase before signatures
A fixed legal phrase used at the end of a document, just before the signatures, meaning “to show and prove this”.
Examples
- In witness whereof, the parties have signed this agreement.
- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
- The contract ended with the phrase 'In witness whereof...'
- In witness whereof, the undersigned have hereunto set their hands and seals.
- The contract ended with the traditional formula: “In witness whereof, the parties have caused this instrument to be executed.”
in witness whereof
2/ˈɪn wˈɪtnəs wˈɛɹoʊf/
fixed phrase
archaic
formal phrase before signatures
A very formal phrase in legal documents, used just before the signatures to say that the people signing are proving the document is true.
Examples
- In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.