119. Usage note: look, watch, see, view, observe

watch see view observe
These words all mean to turn your eyes in a particular direction.

look
to turn your eyes in a particular direction: If you look carefully you can just see our house from here. She looked at me and smiled.

watch
to look at somebody/something for a time, paying attention to what happens: to watch television; Watch what I do, then you try.

see
to watch a game, television program, performance, etc: In the evening we went to see a movie.
view (formal) to look at something, especially when you look carefully; to watch television, a film/movie, etc: People came from all over the world to view her work.

watch, see or view? You can see/view a film/movie/program but you cannot: see/view television. View is more formal than see and is used especially in business contexts.

observe (formal) to watch somebody/something carefully, especially to learn more about them or it: The patients were observed over a period of several months. to look/watch for somebody/something to watch/observe what/who/how? to look/watch/view/observe (somebody/something) with amazement/surprise/disapproval, etc. to watch/see/view a film/movie/show/program to watch/see a match/game/fight to look (at somebody/something)/watch (somebody/something)/observe somebody/something carefully/closely