observatories

noun

plural of observatory
as in lookouts
a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible the observatory is located on a mountaintop

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of observatories Before observatories such as Greenwich, humans used sundials — essentially a stick in the ground that casts shadows as the sun moves overhead. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Benioff had started in astronomy in 1917, working at both the Mount Wilson and Lick observatories. — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2026 As the newest heavy hitter in orbital observatories continues the journey to its final destination, NASA has begun the process of switching the spacecraft on. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The first Lagrange point (L1) also hosts spacecraft, including solar and weather observatories; the other three points are uninhabited. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 The new mission will extend the vision of NASA’s other famous observatories, providing a field of view 100 times wider than the Hubble Space Telescope and complementing the groundbreaking work of the James Webb Space Telescope. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026 Instead of replacing Hubble or Webb, Roman will work alongside them, surveying vast regions of the universe before its sister observatories investigate the most intriguing discoveries in greater detail. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon join the ranks of iconic observatories like the Hubble and James Webb telescopes – plumbing the far reaches of the cosmos to answer some of life's greatest mysteries. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The spectacular images are therefore only the visible layer of what these observatories are doing. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observatories
  1. lookouts
  2. towers
  3. overlooks
Noun
  • The president’s plan announced Tuesday night would focus on releasing people who were considered gang collaborators, a blanket term that can include anyone from gang lookouts to people who make extortion payments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Closer still to the falls, the mist is heavy enough to drench the sightseers stopping to gawk at the spectacle from viewing points, or on slippery pathways between the various lookouts.
    — Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of lookouts
Noun
  • Other commenters reported that some of the festival’s sound towers did not seem to be working during portions of the show.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The team assembles, jumping off lifeguard towers, leaping over beach patrons, and, of course, running and diving in slow motion to make the rescue.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of towers
Noun
  • Our photos — of Leo smiling at the Vatican and posing at scenic overlooks — attest to that.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For first-timers seeking big Catskills scenery, the Escarpment Trail to Kaaterskill Falls is the classic, with dramatic overlooks and waterfalls that explain why people have been coming to these mountains for generations.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of overlooks

Browse Nearby Words

observations
observatories
observatory
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Cite this Entry

“Observatories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observatories. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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