watch
verb (used without object)
to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens.
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watch
American
[woch]
/ wɒtʃ /
verb (used without object)
-
watches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
watched,
past participle, past
-
watching
present participle
-
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.
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to look or wait attentively and expectantly (usually followed byfor ).
to watch for a signal;
to watch for an opportunity.
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to be careful or cautious.
Watch when you cross the street.
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to keep awake, especially for a purpose; remain vigilant, as for protection or safekeeping.
to watch with a sick person.
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to keep vigil, as for devotional purposes.
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to keep guard.
She was assigned to watch at the door.
verb (used with object)
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watches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
watched,
past participle, past
-
watching
present participle
-
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.
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to contemplate or regard mentally.
to watch his progress.
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to look or wait attentively and expectantly for.
to watch one's opportunity.
- Synonyms:
- await
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to guard, tend, or oversee, especially for protection or safekeeping.
to watch the baby.
- Synonyms:
- protect
noun
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watches
plural
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close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something.
Their watch for the birds was unrewarding.
- Synonyms:
- attention, inspection
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vigilant guard, as for protection or restraint.
to keep watch for prowlers.
- Synonyms:
- vigil
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a keeping awake for some special purpose.
a watch beside a sickbed.
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a period of time for watching or keeping guard.
to stand the first watch.
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a small, portable timepiece, as a wrist watch or pocket watch.
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a chronometer.
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Nautical.
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a period of time, usually four hours, during which one part of a ship's crew is on duty, taking turns with another part.
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the officers and crew who attend to the working of a ship for an allotted period of time.
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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.
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a person or group that watches, as a lookout, guard, or sentinel.
A watch was posted at sunset.
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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.
hurricane watch;
tornado watch.
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a flock of nightingales.
verb phrase
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watch out to be on one's guard; be cautious.
Watch out for cars when you cross the road.
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watch over to guard for protection or safekeeping.
She watched over us like a mother hen over her brood.
watch
1
British
/ wɒtʃ /
verb
-
to look at or observe closely or attentively
-
to wait attentively or expectantly
-
to guard or tend (something) closely or carefully
-
(intr) to keep vigil
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(tr) to maintain an interest in
to watch the progress of a child at school
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be careful! look out!
noun
-
-
a small portable timepiece, usually worn strapped to the wrist (a wristwatch ) or in a waistcoat pocket
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( as modifier )
a watch spring
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the act or an instance of watching
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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
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nautical
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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
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those officers and crew on duty during a specified watch
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the period during which a guard is on duty
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(formerly) a watchman or band of watchmen
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on the lookout; alert
-watch
2
British
suffix
watch
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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watchsimple
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watchessimple
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have watchedperfect
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has watchedperfect
-
am watchingprogressive
-
are watchingprogressive
-
is watchingprogressive
-
have been watchingperfect progressive
-
has been watchingperfect progressive
Past
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watchedsimple
-
had watchedperfect
-
was watchingprogressive
-
were watchingprogressive
-
had been watchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of watch
First recorded before 900; 1580–90 watch for def. 15; (verb) Middle English wacchen, Old English wæccan, doublet of wacian “to be awake”; (noun) Middle English wacche, Old English wæcce, derivative of wæccan; see wake 1
Explanation
When you watch something, you observe it or guard it — like when you watch the latest episode of your favorite television show or when you watch your baby cousin. You use the word watch (rather than look) when you'll be observing for a while, and with some care. If you agree to watch your neighbor's puppy, it means that you've promised to observe him carefully and make sure he doesn't get into trouble. When watch is a noun, it is the timepiece you wear on your wrist. Many people use their cell phones to get the time of day, instead of their watches.
Vocabulary lists containing watch
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
On Friday, for the first time in 13 years, Cox subscribers within the Dodgers’ broadcast territory will be able to watch the team on their local television home.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
For now, the gap in scale makes this a watch item, not an earnings story.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
It’s probably OK to watch an occasional YouTube video at your desk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Their defence was also ridiculously good last season, although William Saliba's progress after his World Cup injury is something to watch closely.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Turning into the alley were Mr. and Mrs. Kan, owners of the other watch shop on the street.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Now, if the artist, for some unknown reason, watches this and goes, “I can’t believe he didn’t remember my name or the name of the exhibition,” I apologize profusely.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
But a number of frustrated runners voiced concerns online after the race, noting that the distance on their GPS running watches was over 26.22 miles.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Gibson often regurgitates messages from personal finance and investing books that he reads, or from YouTube videos he watches about finance for beginners.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
O’Leary: I’ve moved more into sports collectible cards and watches this year.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Mrs. Dithers watches as we pass her desk, and then we’re in the hall.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Then I texted Fox to see if he’d watched.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
With a large online following, he has watched the rise of electric motorbike content on social media first-hand.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
They then disrupted or destroyed that electronic pattern and watched to see how the two waves returned.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
"Across the country, we've watched preventable conditions -- overgrown stands, insect outbreaks and disease -- turn healthy landscapes into tinderboxes," she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
The nursing home was loud with laughter that morning as the old folks watched them gallivanting out there in the snow.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Some people watching last week's eclipse did see this familiar pearly color.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
Markets have been nervously watching the rise of yields on longer-term bonds, as those can drive up borrowing costs for businesses, households and the federal government.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
"The whole Trailfinders team have been so welcoming since I got here and watching them all last season had me fizzed about how they're playing game."
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
For the Valens family, watching young performers like Monroy continue to be inspired by Ritchie’s work is a solace after his tragic loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
He’d always loved watching the First Tree on frosty nights, while Fa told the story of the Beginning.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
