WATCH Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

watch

[ woch ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens:
to watch while an experiment is performed.
to look or wait attentively and expectantly (usually followed by for ):
to watch for a signal;
to watch for an opportunity.
to be careful or cautious:
Watch when you cross the street.
to keep awake, especially for a purpose; remain vigilant, as for protection or safekeeping:
to watch with a sick person.
to keep vigil, as for devotional purposes.
to keep guard:
She was assigned to watch at the door.

verb (used with object)

to keep under attentive view or observation, as in order to see or learn something; view attentively or with interest: to watch a football game.
to watch a play;
to watch a football game.
to contemplate or regard mentally:
to watch his progress.
to look or wait attentively and expectantly for:
to watch one's opportunity.
Synonyms:
to guard, tend, or oversee, especially for protection or safekeeping:
to watch the baby.
Synonyms:

noun

close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something:
Their watch for the birds was unrewarding.
Synonyms: ,
vigilant guard, as for protection or restraint:
to keep watch for prowlers.
Synonyms:
a keeping awake for some special purpose:
a watch beside a sickbed.
a period of time for watching or keeping guard:
to stand the first watch.
a small, portable timepiece, as a wrist watch or pocket watch.
a chronometer.
Nautical.
1. a period of time, usually four hours, during which one part of a ship's crew is on duty, taking turns with another part.
2. the officers and crew who attend to the working of a ship for an allotted period of time.
one of the periods, usually three or four, into which the night was divided in ancient times, as by the Greeks or Hebrews:
the fourth watch of the night.
a person or group that watches, as a lookout, guard, or sentinel:
A watch was posted at sunset.
Also called storm watch. Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that dangerous weather conditions are a possibility and that vigilance and precautionary preparations are advised: tornado watch. Compare advisory ( def 5 ), warning ( def 3 ).
hurricane watch;
tornado watch.
a flock of nightingales.

verb phrase

to be on one's guard; be cautious:
Watch out for cars when you cross the road.
to guard for protection or safekeeping:
She watched over us like a mother hen over her brood.

-watch

suffix

indicating a regular television programme or newspaper feature on the topic specified
Crimewatch

watch

/ ��ɒ��ʃ /

verb

to look at or observe closely or attentively
intrfoll byfor to wait attentively or expectantly
to guard or tend (something) closely or carefully
intr to keep vigil
tr to maintain an interest in
to watch the progress of a child at school
watch it!
be careful! look out!

noun

1. a small portable timepiece, usually worn strapped to the wrist (a wristwatch ) or in a waistcoat pocket
2. ( as modifier )
  a watch spring
the act or an instance of watching
a period of vigil, esp during the night
(formerly) one of a set of periods of any of various lengths into which the night was divided
nautical
1. any of the usually four-hour periods beginning at midnight and again at noon during which part of a ship's crew are on duty
2. those officers and crew on duty during a specified watch
the period during which a guard is on duty
(formerly) a watchman or band of watchmen
on the watch
on the lookout; alert

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Other �y��vlog Forms

�ܲ�·�ɲ��ٳ�� adjective
�ܲ�·�ɲ��ٳ��i�Բ� adjective
�ɱ��-�ɲ��ٳ�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of watch¹

First recorded before 900; 1580–90 watch fordef 15; (verb) Middle English wacchen, Old English ��æ��, doublet of wacian “to be awake”; (noun) Middle English wacche, Old English ��æ��, derivative of ��æ��; wake ¹

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of watch¹

Old English ��æ�� (vb), ��æ�� (n); related to wake ¹

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Idioms and Phrases

on the watch, vigilant; alert:
The hunter was on the watch for game.
watch oneself,
1. to be cautious.
2. to practice discretion or self-restraint.

More idioms and phrases containing watch

keep watch
look (watch) out
on the lookout (watch)

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Synonym Study

Watch, look, see imply being aware of things around one by perceiving them through the eyes. To watch is to be a spectator, to look on or observe, or to fix the attention upon during passage of time: to watch while a procession passes. To look is to direct the gaze with the intention of seeing, to use the eyesight with attention: to look for violets in the spring; to look at articles displayed for sale. To see is to perceive with the eyes, to obtain a visual impression, with or without fixing the attention: animals able to see in the dark.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Brown’s contributions will be closely watched by those rooting for players from smaller schools to come up big.

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Eating the rich has never been quite so putrid a task as watching “Death of a Unicorn,” a truly toothless satire that I’d struggle to even deem “half-baked.”

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"So, all of us are in danger right now. But we have to stand up. That's our only choice. If we don't do anything, if we just watch, the battle is lost already."

From

They watched for years as Israel targeted the Assad regime, and believed that Assad's fall would bring the chance for a less confrontational relationship with Israel.

From

Thank goodness this was at a Starbucks, where several people watched, because I was shocked by his aggressive impulse.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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