watchful

[woch-fuhl]

adjective

1. vigilant or alert; closely observant.

   The sentry remained watchful throughout the night.

   Synonyms: wary, cautious, circumspect, careful, heedful, attentive

2. Archaic.,  wakeful.

watchful

/ ˈwɒtʃfʊl /

adjective

1. vigilant or alert

2. archaic,  not sleeping

Other Word Forms

• watchfully adverb
• watchfulness noun
• self-watchfulness noun
• unwatchful adjective
• unwatchfully adverb
• unwatchfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of watchful¹

First recorded in 1540–50; watch + -ful

Synonym Study

See alert.

Example Sentences

"During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children – empowering, but with watchful guidance."

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Camille is an interesting narrator in part because she’s what some might derogatorily call a “passive” character, but whom I read instead as intensely observant and watchful.

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But there are things that escape even their watchful eye, such as a pair of earrings.

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He wasn’t under the watchful eye of Chargers executive director of player performance Ben Herbert this offseason.

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Under the watchful gaze of security guards, dozens of people streamed through metal detectors to enter Temple Israel one evening this month for a town hall meeting on hate crimes and domestic terrorism.

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Related Words

• attentive 
• careful 
• cautious 
• observant 
• suspicious 
• vigilant 
• wary