watch

1 of 2

verb

ˈwäch 

ˈwȯch

watched; watching; watches

intransitive verb

1

a

: to keep vigil as a devotional exercise

b

: to be awake during the night

2

a

: to be attentive or vigilant

b

: to keep guard

3

a

: to keep someone or something under close observation

b

: to observe as a spectator

the country watched as stocks fell sharply

4

: to be expectant : wait

watch for the signal

transitive verb

1

: to keep under guard

2

a

: to observe closely in order to check on action or change

being watched by the police

b

: to look at : observe

sat and watched the crowd

c

: to look on at

watch television

watch a ball game

3

a

: to take care of : tend

b

: to be careful of

watches his diet

4

: to be on the alert for : bide

watched her opportunity

watch

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act of keeping awake to guard, protect, or attend

b

obsolete : the state of being wakeful

c

: a wake over a dead body

d

: a state of alert and continuous attention

e

: close observation : surveillance

f

: a notice or bulletin that alerts the public to the possibility of severe weather conditions occurring in the near future

a winter storm watch

2

a

: any of the definite divisions of the night made by ancient peoples

b

: one of the indeterminate intervals marking the passage of night

—usually used in plural

the silent watches of the night

3

a

: lookout, watchman

b

archaic : the office or function of a sentinel or guard

4

a

: a body of soldiers or sentinels making up a guard

b

: a watchman or body of watchmen formerly assigned to patrol the streets of a town at night, announce the hours, and act as police

5

a(1)

: a portion of time during which a part of a ship's company is on duty

(2)

: the part of a ship's company required to be on duty during a particular watch

(3)

: a sailor's assigned duty period

b

: a period of duty : shift

c

: a term as holder especially of an overseeing or managerial office

the business grew on her watch

6

: a portable timepiece designed to be worn (as on the wrist) or carried in the pocket compare clock

Phrases

watch it

: look out : be careful

watch it when you handle the glassware

watch one's step

: to proceed with extreme care : act or talk warily

watch over

: to have charge of : superintend

Synonyms

Verb

• eye
• follow
• observe

Noun

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

Examples of watch in a Sentence

Verb

They have a rookie on the team who is fun to watch.

I fell asleep watching television.

What movie are you watching?

“Mom, watch me do a cartwheel!”

She sat and watched the children play.

“Would you like to play, too?” “No, I'll just watch.”

Just sit back and watch.

Keep watching to see what happens next.

“What happens next?” “Watch and see.”

People are watching this presidential race very carefully.

Noun

He glanced at his watch.

When you're driving in winter you should always be on the watch for ice on the roads.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Suspecting that the bear in question was in fact not a bear at all, detectives asked a California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist to watch the videos and weigh in. —Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

Loading your audio article Of all the overseas leaders avidly watching the U.S. election results, the two happiest were probably Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. —Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024

Noun

Photo: David Dee Delgado/AFP/Getty Images Members and supporters of the New York Immigration Coalition at an Election Night watch party at their offices in New York City. —Curbed Staff, Curbed, 6 Nov. 2024

In one instance, a man survived a gunshot only due to his pocket watch deflecting the bullet, while another joined the Union army after deserting the Confederacy. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæccan — more at wake

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing watch

• binge-watch
• bird-watch
• hate-watch
• keep a close watch/eye
• keep a close watch over
• keep a watch out for
• keep watch
• keep watch on
• neighborhood watch
• on the watch for
• stand guard/watch
• watch and ward
• watch cap
• watch fire
• watch for
• watch list
• watch night
• watch one's back
• watch oneself
• watch one's language
• watch one's language/mouth/tongue
• watch one's mouth
• watch one's p's and q's
• watch one's tongue
• watch one's weight
• watch out
• watch pocket
• watch (someone or something) like a hawk
• watch someone's back
• watch the clock
• watch what one eats
• whale watch
• you watch

Kids Definition

watch

1 of 2 verb

ˈwäch 

ˈwȯch

1

: to stay awake especially during the night (as at the bedside of a sick person)

2

: to be on the alert or on the lookout

3

: to keep guard

watch outside the door

4

: to keep one's eyes on : keep in view

watch a game

5

: to keep in view so as to prevent harm or warn of danger

watch a brush fire carefully

6

: to keep oneself informed about

watch his career

7

: to be on the alert for the chance to make use of

watched her opportunity and took it

watcher noun

watch

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of keeping awake to guard, protect, or attend

b

: a state of alert and continuous attention

a tornado watch

c

: close observation

kept a watch over the prisoner

2

a

: watchman

b

: a body of watchmen

3

a

: a period during which a part of a ship's company is on duty

b

: the part of a ship's company on duty during a watch

4

: a portable timepiece designed to be worn (as on the wrist) or carried in the pocket