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vigilant
[ vij-uh-luhnt ]
adjective
- keenly watchful to detect danger; wary:
a vigilant sentry.
Antonyms: careless
- ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful.
Synonyms: sleepless, wide-awake
vigilant
/ ˈvɪdʒɪlənt /
adjective
- keenly alert to or heedful of trouble or danger, as while others are sleeping or unsuspicious
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Derived Forms
- ˈvigilantly, adverb
- ˈvigilantness, noun
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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
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of vigilant1
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Compare Meanings
How does vigilant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
It’s possible landlords will attempt to use this reasoning to proceed with an eviction before the end of the year, so tenants should stay vigilant in terms of following the rules of their lease.
I always have to be aware and vigilant, but this is the career that I signed up for.
Scientists cannot understand wolverine migratory patterns if they don’t see when they move and where they’re going, she says, but since the animals are so elusive, scientists won’t get that information without these super vigilant tracking efforts.
If they’ve entered your life in a time where you can shower love on them all day and things suddenly change, you’ll want to be extra vigilant in watching for symptoms of stress.
“You have to just watch and be somewhat vigilant,” Golub said.
Nervous fans can keep a vigilant eye on it via a webcam hosted on the town website that offers 24-hour goat viewing.
Bershin, who worked with the Ukrainian police before rebels took control of Donetsk, says officers have to be extra vigilant.
This species of penguin was showered with positive coverage throughout the 20th century by a supposedly vigilant press.
They washed their hands methodically under the vigilant eye of Fatu.
Beyond that, it has made the activists themselves more vigilant.
Vigilant eyes and sharp judgments have long swept over Europe in search of them.
That extremely vigilant body, the London Fire Brigade, had their nearest engines out in two minutes.
Nellie was always jealous of the welfare of the working class, and was ever vigilant as to its interests.
Vigilant priests were always ready to extinguish systems which could not be made to tally with their interests.
No matter how vigilant the Federals were, Mosby was sure to find an opportunity for attacking.
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More About Vigilant
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.
Where does vigilant come from?
The first records of vigilant in English come from the 1470s. It comes from the Latin word vigilāns (meaning “keeping awake”), which is derived from the Latin word vigilāre (meaning “to be watchful”). It is related to other words that imply watchfulness (and sometimes potential danger), such as vigil and vigilante. In fact, the Latin word vigil means “sentry,” a person who stands guard, such as to look out for dangers such as invaders, escapees, or fire.
To be vigilant, then, is to behave like a guard who watches to make sure that bad things don’t happen. Of course, those bad things can take many forms, depending on the context in which vigilant is used. Someone might tell you to be vigilant while walking home in the dark. A shepherd needs to be vigilant for wolves. But being vigilant sometimes involves watching out for unknown dangers. A parent might be vigilant when monitoring their children’s internet use. And election officials may keep a vigilant watch over voters. In all cases, being vigilant means being watchful and alert without letting your guard down. It doesn’t always have to involve the potential for danger or trouble, but it usually does.
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What are some other forms of vigilant?
- vigilance (noun)
- vigilantly (adverb)
What are some synonyms for vigilant?
What are some words that share a root or word element with vigilant?
What are some words that often get used in discussing vigilant?
How is vigilant used in real life?
Vigilant is often used in serious contexts, such as safety, politics, and national security.
There's been a recent spate of bike burglaries in the Wrenthorpe and Alverthorpe area from locked/alarmed garages between 3am and 5am. Please be vigilant and, of course, keep your prized bikes locked and secured.
— Calder Clarion CC (@CalderClarion) February 18, 2020
You need to watch this so that you really understand, going forward from now, that you can never trust videos again. Be vigilant. https://t.co/owOe10dVbj
— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) February 19, 2020
You don't often hear appreciation for banks, but I have to say I'm glad my bank is so vigilant about picking up on credit card fraud. I had a call last night that my card was compromised. Apparently I ordered Skip the Dishes. As far as I know, we can't do that in #CornerBrook.
— Bernice Hillier (@BerniceCBC) February 11, 2020
Try using vigilant!
Is vigilant used correctly in the following sentence?
His vigilant gaze allowed the dog to slip out the door while he wasn’t looking.
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