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

Other Word Forms

• vigilantly adverb
• vigilantness noun
• hypervigilant adjective
• nonvigilant adjective
• nonvigilantly adverb
• nonvigilantness noun
• previgilant adjective
• previgilantly adverb
• supervigilant adjective
• supervigilantly adverb
• unvigilant adjective
• unvigilantly 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

The Wellington group is pushing into new neighborhoods toward the downtown, while maintaining a vigilant watch for invaders.

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Mr Hussein replied: "Allah is truly vigilant over them."

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She told parliament that the bill would deliver much needed modernisation in the justice system but warned that government had to remain "vigilant" to ensure the court reforms worked in practice.

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Renault's UK customers are being warned to be vigilant after a company that looks after data for the carmaker was hacked.

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It warned that counterfeiting criminals target a wide range of popular toys and it's important to be vigilant and aware of what you are purchasing.

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Related Words

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

When To Use

What does vigilant mean?

To be vigilant is to be watchful or alert for danger or some other kind of trouble.Vigilant can describe a person or an action. It is often used when talking about keeping something out or in—whether that means keeping mistakes out of your work, robbers out of your home, or the dog inside the house.Example: We must be vigilant if we want to protect our home from invaders.