watchful

[ woch-fuhl ]

/ ˈwɒtʃ fəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR watchful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

vigilant or alert; closely observant: The sentry remained watchful throughout the night.

Archaic. wakeful.

Nearby words

Origin of watchful

First recorded in 1540–50; watch + -ful

SYNONYMS FOR watchful

1. attentive, heedful, careful, circumspect, cautious, wary.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR watchful ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

watch·ful·ly, adverbwatch·ful·ness, nounself-watch·ful·ness, nounun·watch·ful, adjective

un·watch·ful·ly, adverbun·watch·ful·ness, noun

Synonym study

1. See alert.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for watchful

There was no shelling this time, but there was the hum of watchful drones.
Gaza ‘Mass Execution’ Investigated|Jesse Rosenfeld|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Under the watchful eye of Zuckerberg, Facebook’s policy seems to be “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
WhatsApp Experiences Massive Outage Days After Facebook Acquisition, Internet Blames Zuckerberg|Marlow Stern|February 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fuming, Jesse keeps a watchful eye on Walt, but he doesn't speak, or move.
The Daily Beast Staff Picks Their Favorite ‘Breaking Bad’ Moments (VIDEO)|The Daily Beast|September 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Nickelodeon was nothing short of amazing to work for, and they had their watchful eye on us all,” he said.
The Amanda Bynes Meltdown: What Former Child Stars Are Saying|Kevin Fallon|June 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Will the foreign depositors view 15% as the simple cost of stashing their money out of the watchful eye of their own government?
Cyprus to Small Depositors: We Won't Take Quite So Much of Your Money|Megan McArdle|March 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“I will be watchful, and keep out of their power,” said Tecumah.
Villegagnon|W.H.G. Kingston
Little Hunne kept a watchful eye on them, for he had observed from the first, that something was amiss.
Uncle Titus and His Visit to the Country|Johanna Spyri
Was that hint at the watchful eyes and ears, and the soft footsteps, really an allusion to Mr. Meadowcroft's daughter?
The Dead Alive|Wilkie Collins
In this country more than in any other, the people keep a watchful and commanding eye upon public matters.
A Discourse for the Time, delivered January 4, 1852 in the First Congregational Unitarian Church|W. H. Furness
During four successful years the watchful mother felt no change in her son's religious nature; but the shock came.
The Higher Court|Mary Stewart Daggett

British Dictionary definitions for watchful

watchful

/ (ˈwɒtʃfʊl) /

adjective

vigilant or alert

archaic not sleeping

Derived Formswatchfully, adverbwatchfulness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for watchful