vigilant

[ vij-uh-luhnt ]

adjective

1. keenly watchful to detect danger; wary:

   a vigilant sentry.

   Antonyms: careless

2. ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful.

   Synonyms: sleepless, wide-awake

vigilant

/ ˈvɪdʒɪlənt /

adjective

1. keenly alert to or heedful of trouble or danger, as while others are sleeping or unsuspicious

Derived Forms

• ˈvigilantly, adverb
• ˈvigilantness, noun

Other Words From

• vig·i·lant·ly adverb
• vig·i·lant·ness noun
• hy·per·vig·i·lant adjective
• non·vig·i·lant adjective
• non·vig·i·lant·ly adverb
• non·vig·i·lant·ness noun
• pre·vig·i·lant adjective
• pre·vig·i·lant·ly adverb
• su·per·vig·i·lant adjective
• su·per·vig·i·lant·ly adverb
• un·vig·i·lant adjective
• un·vig·i·lant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigilant¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Latin vigilant- (stem of vigilāns ), present participle of vigilāre “to be watchful”; vigil, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigilant¹

C15: from Latin vigilāns keeping awake, from vigilāre to be watchful; see vigil

Synonym Study

See alert.

Example Sentences

Nervous fans can keep a vigilant eye on it via a webcam hosted on the town website that offers 24-hour goat viewing.

From The Daily Beast

Bershin, who worked with the Ukrainian police before rebels took control of Donetsk, says officers have to be extra vigilant.

From The Daily Beast

This species of penguin was showered with positive coverage throughout the 20th century by a supposedly vigilant press.

From The Daily Beast

They washed their hands methodically under the vigilant eye of Fatu.

From The Daily Beast

Beyond that, it has made the activists themselves more vigilant.

From The Daily Beast

Vigilant eyes and sharp judgments have long swept over Europe in search of them.

From Project Gutenberg

That extremely vigilant body, the London Fire Brigade, had their nearest engines out in two minutes.

From Project Gutenberg

Nellie was always jealous of the welfare of the working class, and was ever vigilant as to its interests.

From Project Gutenberg

Vigilant priests were always ready to extinguish systems which could not be made to tally with their interests.

From Project Gutenberg

No matter how vigilant the Federals were, Mosby was sure to find an opportunity for attacking.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anxious
• attentive
• aware
• cautious
• circumspect
• keen
• observant
• wary