witness

noun

/ˈwɪtnəs/

Idioms

person who sees something目睹者

(also eyewitness)

[countable] a person who sees something happen and is able to describe it to other people目击者；见证人

He failed to interview a key witness.他没能采访到一位关键证人。
witness to something Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident.警方呼吁这起事故的目击者出来作证。
We have a witness to the killing.我们有目击证人。
According to witnesses, the man jumped out of his vehicle and attacked the other driver.据目击者称，该男子跳下车，袭击了另一名司机。
She gave a witness statement to the police.她向警方提供了证人证词。
Mark had to go into the witness protection programme to escape the violence.马克不得不参加证人保护计划以逃避暴力。

A judicial investigation was ordered, but witnesses were threatened and none would testify.司法调查令已经下达，但是证人受到威胁，都不愿意出庭作证。
According to witnesses, the thief escaped through the bedroom window.根据目击者的描述，小偷是从卧室的窗户逃走的。
Police have so far failed to trace any witnesses to the attack.到目前为止，警方还没有找到这次袭击的目击者。
She was the only witness to identify Peters as the attacker.她是指认彼得斯为攻击者的唯一证人。
The police are appealing for witnesses.警方呼吁目击者出来作证。
Two witnesses came forward with evidence.两个目击者出庭作证。
Witnesses reported that the suspect was a white male.目击者举报说，嫌疑犯是一名白人男子。
He was charged with conspiracy to suborn witnesses.他被指控阴谋收买证人作伪证。

Topics Crime and punishmentb2

Collocations Dictionaryadjective

crucial
key
material
…

verb + witness

appeal for
trace

witness + verb

come forward
report

witness + noun

account
statement

preposition

according to witness
witness to

in court法庭上

[countable] a person who gives evidence in court证人

a defence/prosecution witness被告的／控方的证人
He was hired to be an expert witness in the trial.他被聘为审判的专家证人。
to appear as (a) witness for the defence/prosecution出庭为被告／控方作证
The defence called their first witness.被告传唤他们的第一个证人。
Several witnesses testified that there had been two gunmen.几个目击者证实有两名持枪歹徒。

Synonyms witnesswitness

observer
onlooker
passer-by
bystander
eyewitness

These are all words for a person who sees something happen.

witness
a person who sees something happen and is able to describe it to other people; a person who gives evidence in a court of law:
- Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident.警方呼吁这起事故的目击者出来作证。
observer
a person who sees something happen:
- According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off.据目击者说，飞机起飞后不久就爆炸了。
onlooker
a person who watches something that is happening but is not involved in it:
- A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash.在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。
passer-by
a person who is going past somebody/something by chance, especially when something unexpected happens:
- Police asked passers-by if they had witnessed the accident.警察询问过路的人是否目击了这次事故。
bystander
a person who is near and can see what is happening when something such as an accident or fight takes place:
- Three innocent bystanders were killed in the crossfire.三名无辜的旁观者在交火中丧生。
eyewitness a person who has seen a crime or accident and can describe it afterwards.指犯罪或事故现场的目击者、见证人

Patterns

a witness/an observer/an onlooker/a passer-by/a bystander/an eyewitness sees something
an observer/an onlooker/a passer-by/a bystander witnesses something

of signature签名

[countable] a person who is present when an official document is signed and who also signs it to prove that they saw this happen见证人；联署人

He was one of the witnesses at our wedding.他是我们婚礼的证婚人之一。
The will was signed in the presence of two witnesses.遗嘱是在两个证人在场的情况下签署的。
witness to something There was no witness to her signature.没有人见证她的签名。

When you sign the contract you'll need a witness.当你签合同时，你需要一个证人。
the marriage contract is signed in front of witnesses婚约是当着几个见证人的面签订的。
Would you be willing to act as a witness to my signature when I sign my will?你愿意做我签署遗嘱的见证人吗？

Topics Law and justiceb2

Collocations Dictionaryadjective

crucial
key
material
…

verb + witness

appeal for
trace

witness + verb

come forward
report

witness + noun

account
statement

preposition

according to witness
witness to

of religious beliefs宗教信仰

[uncountable] evidence of a person’s strong religious beliefs, that they show by what they say and do in public见证（以言行证实信仰） see also Jehovah’s Witness

词源Old English witnes (see wit, -ness).

Idioms

bear/give witness (to something)

to provide evidence of the truth of something为…作证；证明
- The crowd of mourners at his funeral bore witness to the great affection in which he was held.葬礼上默哀的人群见证了他生前受到的爱戴。
- The ancient temples bear silent witness to the passing dynasties.这些古剎默默见证了历代的兴亡。

Wordfinder

accident
ambulance
casualty
first aid
hospital
injure
paramedic
stretcher
victim
witness

Collocations CrimeCrime犯罪Committing a crime犯罪

commit a crime/a murder/a violent assault/a brutal killing/an armed robbery/fraud犯罪／谋杀罪／暴力侵犯他人身体罪／残杀罪／持械抢劫罪／诈骗罪
be involved in terrorism/a suspected arson attack/people smuggling/human trafficking参与恐怖主义活动；涉嫌纵火袭击；参与人口走私／人口贩卖
engage/participate in criminal activity/illegal practices/acts of mindless vandalism参与犯罪活动／非法活动／愚昧的故意毁坏他人财产的行为
steal somebody’s wallet/purse/(British English) mobile phone/(North American English) cell phone偷某人的钱包／手机
rob a bank/a person/a tourist抢劫银行／他人／游客
break into/ (British English) burgle/ (North American English) burglarize a house/a home/an apartment入室盗窃
hijack a plane/ship/bus劫持飞机／轮船／公共汽车
smuggle drugs/weapons/arms/immigrants走私毒品／武器／军火；偷运移民
launder drug money (through something)（通过…）洗毒资
forge documents/certificates/passports伪造文件／证件／护照
take/accept/pay somebody/offer (somebody) a bribe索取／收受贿赂；向（某人）行贿
run a phishing/an email/an internet scam进行网络钓鱼／电子邮件／互联网诈骗

Fighting crime打击犯罪

combat/fight crime/terrorism/corruption/drug trafficking打击犯罪／恐怖主义／腐败／贩毒
prevent/stop credit-card fraud/child abuse/software piracy防止／阻止信用卡诈骗／虐待儿童／软件盗版
deter/stop criminals/burglars/thieves/shoplifters/vandals威慑／阻止犯罪分子／入室盗窃者／小偷／商店扒手／故意破坏公物者
reduce/tackle/crack down on knife/gun/violent/street crime; (especially British English) antisocial behaviour减少／处理／严厉打击持刀／持枪／暴力／街头犯罪／反社会行为
foil a bank raid/a terrorist plot挫败一起银行抢劫案／一次恐怖分子的阴谋
help/support/protect the victims of crime帮助／支持／保护犯罪活动的受害者

Investigating crime调查犯罪活动

report a crime/a theft/a rape/an attack/(especially British English) an incident to the police向警方举报不法行为／偷窃案／强奸案／袭击事件／暴力事件
witness the crime/attack/murder/incident目击犯罪／袭击／谋杀／暴力事件
investigate a murder/(especially North American English) a homicide/a burglary/a robbery/the alleged incident调查谋杀案／蓄意杀人案／入室盗窃案／抢劫案／涉嫌的暴力事件
conduct/launch/pursue an investigation (into…); (especially British English) a police/murder inquiry进行／开始／继续（对…的）调查／警方调查／谋杀案调查
investigate/reopen a criminal/murder case调查／重新审理犯罪／谋杀案件
examine/investigate/find fingerprints at the crime scene/the scene of crime仔细检查／调查／查找犯罪现场的指纹
collect/gather forensic evidence收集法医证据
uncover new evidence/a fraud/a scam/a plot/a conspiracy/political corruption/a cache of weapons发现新证据／诈骗／欺诈／密谋／阴谋／政治腐败／私藏武器
describe/identify a suspect/the culprit/the perpetrator/the assailant/the attacker描述／指认嫌疑犯／罪犯／作恶者／攻击者／袭击者
question/interrogate a suspect/witness询问嫌疑人／目击证人
solve/crack the case破案

Collocations Criminal justiceCriminal justice刑事审判Breaking the law犯法

break/violate/obey/uphold the law违反／违背／遵守／维护法律
be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud因犯罪／抢劫／诈骗而被调查／逮捕／审判
be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges因被控犯强奸罪／诈骗罪／重型罪遭逮捕／起诉／定罪
be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting因涉嫌纵火／抢劫／在商店行窃而被逮捕
be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud被指控犯有谋杀罪／杀人罪／四项诈骗罪
face two charges of indecent assault面临两项猥亵罪的指控
admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)承认（对某事的）罪责／责任
deny the allegations/claims/charges否认指控
confess to a crime坦白罪行
grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail准许／不准保释；交保释金获释；弃保潜逃

The legal process法律程序

stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial受审；候审；把某人送交法院审判；开庭审理；受到审判
take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court把某人告上法庭；被法庭受理；庭外和解某事
face/avoid/escape prosecution面临／免于／逃脱起诉
seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel寻求／聘请／有权聘用／无权聘用律师
hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial开庭；出庭；休庭
sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury担任／影响／说服陪审团
sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock坐在／站在／出现在／被送上／将某人送上被告席
plead guilty/not guilty to a crime认罪；不认罪
be called to/enter (British English) the witness box被召唤进入／进入证人席
take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand出庭作证；让某人出庭作证
call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness传唤／以传票传唤／讯问／盘问证人
give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody提供／听取对某人不利／有利的证据
raise/withdraw/overrule an objection提出／撤销／否决异议
reach a unanimous/majority verdict作出一致的／多数人赞同的裁决
return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death作出／宣布无罪／非法杀人／意外死亡的裁决
convict/acquit the defendant of the crime宣判被告有罪／无罪
secure a conviction/your acquittal获得有罪／无罪判决
lodge/file an appeal提出上诉
appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict对判决／裁决提出上诉／质疑；维持／撤销判决／裁决

Sentencing and punishment判刑与惩罚

pass sentence on somebody宣布对某人的判决
carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence会被判处／面临／服七年徒刑／无期徒刑
receive/be given the death penalty被判死刑
be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)被判十年（监禁）
carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)会被判处／处以／缴纳（3 000 美元的）罚金／（14 年的）监禁
be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder因持有毒品罪／诈骗罪／谋杀罪被监禁
do/serve time/ten years服刑；服十年徒刑
be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison被送进监狱；把某人送进监狱；被释放出狱
be/put somebody/spend X years on death row在／把某人关在死囚牢房；在死囚牢房度过…年
be granted/be denied/break (your) parole获准假释；假释遭拒；违反假释规定

be (a) witness to something

(formal) to see something take place目击，看见（某事发生）
- He has been witness to a terrible murder.他目击了一起残忍的凶杀事件。
- a witness to murder谋杀案目击者
to show that something is true; to provide evidence for something证明…真实；为…提供证据
- His good health is a witness to the success of the treatment.他身体健康证明这种疗法是成功的。

witness

verb

/ˈwɪtnəs/

动词形式

present simple I / you / we / they witness	/ˈwɪtnəs/ /ˈwɪtnəs/
he / she / it witnesses	/ˈwɪtnəsɪz/ /ˈwɪtnəsɪz/
past simple witnessed	/ˈwɪtnəst/ /ˈwɪtnəst/
past participle witnessed	/ˈwɪtnəst/ /ˈwɪtnəst/
-ing form witnessing	/ˈwɪtnəsɪŋ/ /ˈwɪtnəsɪŋ/

see something看到

[transitive] witness something to see something happen (typically a crime or an accident)当场看到，目击（尤指罪行或事故）

to witness an accident/a murder/an attack目睹事故/谋杀/袭击
Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.警方呼吁凡是目击这一事件的人与他们联系。
We are now witnessing an unprecedented increase in violent crime.我们现在亲眼看到暴力犯罪空前增多。
She was shocked by the violent scenes she had witnessed.她被亲眼目睹的暴虐场面惊呆了。
The novel is based on an event that he himself had witnessed.这部小说是根据他亲眼目睹的一件事写成的。
I couldn’t bear to witness their suffering.我不忍目睹他们的苦难。
We had witnessed one of the most outstanding theatrical performances of the decade.我们目睹了十年来最杰出的戏剧表演之一。
It's one of the strongest pieces of dance theatre I've ever witnessed.这是我见过的舞剧院最强的作品之一。

Synonyms noticenotice

note
detect
observe
witness

These words all mean to see something, especially when you pay careful attention to it.

notice
to see, hear or become aware of somebody/something; to pay attention to somebody/something:
- The first thing I noticed about the room was the smell.我首先注意到的是这屋子里的气味。
note
(rather formal) to notice or pay careful attention to something:指注意、留意：
- Please note (that) the office will be closed on Monday.请注意办事处星期一将关闭。
This word is very common in business English: Note that the prices are inclusive of VAT.
detect
to discover or notice something, especially something that is not easy to see, hear, etc:
- The tests are designed to detect the disease early.这些检查旨在早期查出疾病。
observe
(formal) to see or notice somebody/something:指看到、注意到、观察到：
- Have you observed any changes lately?最近你注意到什么变化没有？
- The police observed a man enter the bank.警察注意到一个男人走进了银行。
witness
(rather formal) to see something happen:指当场看到、目击：
- Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.警方呼吁目击这一事件的人与他们联系。

Patterns

to notice/note/detect/observe that/how/what/where/who…
to notice/observe/witness something happen/somebody do something

Topics Crime and punishmentb2

of time/place时间；地点

[transitive] witness something to be the place, period, organization, etc. in which particular events take place是发生…的地点（或时间、组织等）；见证

Recent years have witnessed a growing social mobility.近年来人们的社会流动性越来越大。
The retail trade is witnessing a sharp fall in sales.零售业的销售额在急剧下降。
The last century witnessed an unprecedented increase in violent crime.暴力犯罪在上个世纪空前增多。

signature签署

[transitive] witness something to be present when an official document is signed and sign it yourself to prove that you saw this happen（为正式文件的签署）作证，联署

to witness a signature联署作证
The document was witnessed by a lawyer.文件由律师见证。

Wordfinder

agreement
binding
certificate
clause
deed
document
draft
draw up
subsection
witness

be sign/proof迹象；证据

[intransitive, transitive, usually passive] to be a sign or proof of something是…的迹象；为…的证据

witness to something The huge attendance figures for the exhibition witness to a healthy interest in modern art.从展览会参观人数之多可以看出，人们对现代艺术具有浓厚兴趣。
as witnessed by something There has been increasing interest in her life and work, as witnessed by the publication of two new biographies.从两部新传记的出版可以看出，人们对她的生活和工作越来越感兴趣。

[transitive] witness something (formal) used when giving an example that proves something you have just said（摆证据）…就是证据，看…就知道

Authentic Italian cooking is very healthy—witness the low incidence of heart disease in Italy.正宗的意大利烹饪对健康非常有益，在意大利心脏病发病率低就是证据。

to religious beliefs宗教信仰

[intransitive] witness (to something) (especially North American English) to speak to people about your strong religious beliefs（为宗教信仰）做见证 synonym testify

词源Old English witnes (see wit, -ness).