watcher

noun

watch·​er ˈwä-chər 

ˈwȯ-

: one that watches: such as

a

: one that sits up or continues awake at night

b

: watchman

c(1)

: one that keeps watch beside a dead person

(2)

: one that attends a sick person at night

d

: a person who closely follows or observes someone or something

a Supreme Court watcher

—often used in combination

celebrity-watchers

e

: a representative of a party or candidate who is stationed at the polls on an election day to watch the conduct of officials and voters

Synonyms

• custodian
• guard
• guardian
• keeper
• lookout
• minder
• picket
• sentinel
• sentry
• warden
• warder
• watch
• watchman

Examples of watcher in a Sentence

the inexperienced babysitter turned out to be a well-meaning but hopelessly incompetent watcher of young children

a safari that affords wildlife watchers plenty of opportunities to see Africa's grandest creatures in their natural habitat

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s re-election, on the other hand, has caused rail watchers to fear for future funding, as historically, Republican administrations tend not to favor rail and transit. —Rudy Salo, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

China watchers say Lutnick’s selection all but guarantees a trade war with China, one that many economists say the U.S. cannot win. —Peter Green, Quartz, 30 Dec. 2024

Bird watchers can spot them in most states, and Alaska is home to the largest eagle population. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024

And that, many court watchers say, is where his greatest legacy lies. —Eleanor Klibanoff, Austin American-Statesman, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing watcher

• bird-watcher
• clock-watcher