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.
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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.
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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.
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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
-
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
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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.
-
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.
-
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.
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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.
-
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.
-
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
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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:
I encourage you to watch our new documentary, “Infiltrated: North Korea’s Secret U.S. Workforce,” to see how Pyongyang’s scheme works.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Trudy Crielaard, a chemistry teacher who lives near Utrecht in the Netherlands, recalled trying to watch the eclipse in 1999 when clouds obscured the sun’s corona.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Huge crowds gathered at Heaton Park in Manchester, and at Crosby beach on Merseyside to watch the once-in-a-generation display.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Kian Lodge headed to a watch party at Brough Observatory, East Yorkshire, where he could get hold of the glasses after finding the cost of them "absolutely extortionate" online, with long delivery times.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
A fresh wave of grief washes over me as I watch a couple of residents play cards, and I wish I hadn’t let Mom talk me into coming.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
She’s so heavily involved in his football activities that she watches and breaks down film with him and comes to practices to support him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
O’Leary: I’ve moved more into sports collectible cards and watches this year.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Ms. Wilson plays his wife, Suzie, with sharp edges and a raised eyebrow as she watches Ben and the others fall under Nick’s spell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
"My mum always watches the news to see if anything's happened, and my two sisters and nephew are really proud," she added.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
So we developed a system for coding our underground messages in terms of watches.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Omar Everleny, one of Cuba’s leading economists, sat outside his house in Havana and watched his neighbors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
OPEC’s closely watched monthly report comes after OPEC+ producers agreed to raise output again in September, a move that would complete the group’s planned return of voluntarily withheld barrels to the market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
But at its heart stands an ancient tree that locals say has watched over the community for hundreds of years, and remains the spiritual home of the shrine.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
In the seaside resort of Palma de Majorca in the Balearic Islands, tourists, many in swimsuits, some standing in the water, watched the eclipse closely, protective glasses perched on noses.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
The Ravens watched in silence as he started through the snow, with Wolf trotting in his tracks.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Investors are closely watching any developments in the Iran conflict and crude oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Efan, a member of the Vale Stargazing Club, reminded people that "normal sunglasses won't work" when it comes to watching the event, saying that special solar glasses are needed.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
“That has always made me want to lean into her performance, both on screen as a fellow actor and watching her from afar,” Waddingham says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Castellano said Sallie Mae would be watching in the next few years to see if that makes an impact.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
I enjoy watching it too, but Zara takes it to a whole other level, especially when she thinks the contestants are making the wrong choice.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
