watch

[ woch ]

/ wɒtʃ /

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See synonyms for: watch / watched / watches / watching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

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 by for): 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)

to keep under attentive view or observation, as in order to see or learn something; view attentively or with interest: 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.

to guard, tend, or oversee, especially for protection or safekeeping: to watch the baby.

noun

close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something: Their watch for the birds was unrewarding.

vigilant guard, as for protection or restraint: to keep watch for prowlers.

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.

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: hurricane watch;tornado watch.Compare advisory (def. 5), warning (def. 3).

a flock of nightingales.

Verb Phrases

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR watch

9 await.

10 protect.

11 inspection, attention.

12 vigil.

See synonyms for watch on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

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whom

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Idioms about watch

on the watch, vigilant; alert: The hunter was on the watch for game.

watch oneself,

to be cautious.
to practice discretion or self-restraint.

Origin of watch

First recorded before 900; 1580–90 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 wake¹

synonym study for watch

1. 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 WORDS FROM watch

un·watched, adjectiveun·watch·ing, adjectivewell-watched, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use watch in a sentence

Sam watches her fall apart, tear herself apart and is desperate.
Grief: The Real Monster in The Babadook|Tim Teeman|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It turns out the family that binge-watches together may even stay together.
Binge Watching is the New Bonding Time|The Daily Beast|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, he made a pick up of jewelry and watches worth nearly $2 million.
How to Get Away With Stealing $2 Million in Jewelry in the Heart of New York|John Surico|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Flash says it after watching Arrow swing off a rooftop; Arrow says it seconds later as he watches Flash run away.
‘The Flash’ Review: Teen Angst Gets a Comic Book Quickie|Sujay Kumar|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Anyone who watches Milk is bound to be moved by the injustice suffered by the gay community and the courage of Harvey Milk.
Catholic University’s Harvey Milk Ban Reflects A Church In Transition|Jay Michaelson|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At this moment an extraordinary commotion began among the watches.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
By the words of the holy one they stand in judgment, and shall never fall in their watches.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
In about two hours afterward the watches and chronometer recommenced going, and the compasses resumed their position.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Night, high on her spangled throne, watches the sun dip down behind the Libyan sands.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
It was not safe to be out at night,” he said; “we had gold watches on us and money in our purses, and knives were sharp.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow

British Dictionary definitions for watch (1 of 2)

watch

/ (wɒtʃ) /

verb

to look at or observe closely or attentively

(intr foll by for) to wait attentively or expectantly

to guard or tend (something) closely or carefully

(intr) to keep vigil

(tr) to maintain an interest into watch the progress of a child at school

watch it! 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 watch on the lookout; alert

Word Origin for watch

Old English wæccan (vb), wæcce (n); related to wake 1

British Dictionary definitions for watch (2 of 2)

-watch

suffix

indicating a regular television programme or newspaper feature on the topic specifiedCrimewatch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with watch

watch

In addition to the idioms beginning with watch

watched pot never boils, a
watch it
watch like a hawk
watch my dust
watch one's step
watch out
watch over

also see:

keep watch
look (watch) out
on the lookout (watch)

watch

OTHER WORDS FOR watch

Idioms about watch

Origin of watch

synonym study for watch

OTHER WORDS FROM watch

Words related to watch

How to use watch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for watch (1 of 2)

Word Origin for watch

British Dictionary definitions for watch (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with watch