watch
verb (used without object)
to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens.
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.
-
to look or wait attentively and expectantly (usually followed byfor ).
to watch for a signal;
to watch for an opportunity.
-
to be careful or cautious.
Watch when you cross the street.
-
to keep awake, especially for a purpose; remain vigilant, as for protection or safekeeping.
to watch with a sick person.
-
to keep vigil, as for devotional purposes.
-
to keep guard.
She was assigned to watch at the door.
verb (used with object)
-
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.
-
to contemplate or regard mentally.
to watch his progress.
-
to look or wait attentively and expectantly for.
to watch one's opportunity.
- Synonyms:
- await
-
to guard, tend, or oversee, especially for protection or safekeeping.
to watch the baby.
- Synonyms:
- protect
noun
-
watches
plural
-
close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something.
Their watch for the birds was unrewarding.
- Synonyms:
- attention, inspection
-
vigilant guard, as for protection or restraint.
to keep watch for prowlers.
- Synonyms:
- vigil
-
a keeping awake for some special purpose.
a watch beside a sickbed.
-
a period of time for watching or keeping guard.
to stand the first watch.
-
a small, portable timepiece, as a wrist watch or pocket watch.
-
a chronometer.
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Nautical.
-
a period of time, usually four hours, during which one part of a ship's crew is on duty, taking turns with another part.
-
the officers and crew who attend to the working of a ship for an allotted period of time.
-
-
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.
-
a person or group that watches, as a lookout, guard, or sentinel.
A watch was posted at sunset.
-
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.
-
a flock of nightingales.
verb phrase
-
watch out to be on one's guard; be cautious.
Watch out for cars when you cross the road.
-
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
-
(tr) to maintain an interest in
to watch the progress of a child at school
-
be careful! look out!
noun
-
-
a small portable timepiece, usually worn strapped to the wrist (a wristwatch ) or in a waistcoat pocket
-
( as modifier )
a watch spring
-
-
the act or an instance of watching
-
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
-
nautical
-
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
-
those officers and crew on duty during a specified watch
-
-
the period during which a guard is on duty
-
(formerly) a watchman or band of watchmen
-
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
-
watchsimple
-
watchessimple
-
have watchedperfect
-
has watchedperfect
-
am watchingprogressive
-
are watchingprogressive
-
is watchingprogressive
-
have been watchingperfect progressive
-
has been watchingperfect progressive
Past
-
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:
Neko didn’t find anything to be concerned about, but the analysis noted which moles to watch, and I was encouraged to schedule my next annual scan, since tracking moles becomes more meaningful over time.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
You can watch my conversation with Tomé below or listen on Apple or Spotify.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
"Who's going to watch the show if it's already been predetermined who's the winner?"
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
But when you watch it a second time after you’ve seen the finale, you realize that there’s guilt there as well because of what she did to him, all in the name of her son.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
To leave this old house above the watch shop, leave Mama and Father and the aunts, in fact leave behind everything that was certain and well-loved.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
He assumes that, these days, the public goes to see movies or plays, watches television, or reads books either to avoid this dismal reality or absolve themselves from it.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
Two sources also say Diddy has access to a “jailbroken” tablet where he watches movies and documentaries, including “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” the Netflix docuseries produced by his adversary Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
They have become a hallmark of modern devices, with smartphones, watches and video game controllers among those containing small motors that move in response to specific electronic signals.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Wilson, who was raised by a single mom, still contributes to her retirement account today and watches her money grow in index funds.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
He watches the bombe’s rotors spin and clack.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Then, we watched a four-minute, 39-second video explaining how to file the required notice of intent.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
During the coronavirus lockdown in 2020, Benjamin Williams, a lifelong film fan, watched 800 films.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
It’ll gauge the strength of the economy and be closely watched by Federal Reserve rate-setters still on the fence about hiking ahead of their meeting later this month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
In the final hours of the 2026 California legislative season, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a suite of closely watched legislation on energy and the environment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The entire Forest would be doomed: doomed because he hadn’t watched his step ...
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
The whale was first spotted near Palos Verdes Thursday by passengers and crew on a midday whale watching tour.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
It is not anticipated a final decision on Gabriel's future will be confirmed for a few weeks, with United clearly watching the situation closely.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Unfortunately for us, the film’s audience, it doesn’t make watching the rest of the rehearsal any more enjoyable.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
Investors are closely watching headlines related to the Iran conflict, crude oil prices and bond yields.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Jason remembered watching the Bead Clan Kitchen presenter constantly stirring the mixture.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
