watchful

[ woch-fuhl ]
See synonyms for: watchfulwatchfullywatchfulness on Thesaurus.com

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

  2. Archaic. wakeful.

Origin of watchful

1
First recorded in 1540–50; watch + -ful

synonym study For watchful

1. See alert.

Other words for watchful

Other words from watchful

  • watch·ful·ly, adverb
  • watch·ful·ness, noun
  • self-watch·ful·ness, noun
  • un·watch·ful, adjective
  • un·watch·ful·ly, adverb
  • un·watch·ful·ness, noun

Words Nearby watchful

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use watchful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for watchful

watchful

/ (ˈwɒtʃfʊl) /


adjective
  1. vigilant or alert

  2. archaic not sleeping

Derived forms of watchful

  • watchfully, adverb
  • watchfulness, 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