watchtower

American

[woch-tou-er] / ˈwɒtʃˌtaʊ ər /

noun

a tower on which a sentinel keeps watch.

watchtower British

/ ˈwɒtʃˌtaʊə /

noun

a tower on which a sentry keeps watch

"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

Etymology

Origin of watchtower

First recorded in 1535–45; watch + tower ¹

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.

It is effectively a watchtower or control tower for all your data.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

His career paths are hunter, forager or watchtower guard, but he seems more like the product of a progressive Montessori school, even with his dad urging him to cackle at shredded deer intestines.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2025

It was followed by the watchtower and an electricity pole.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

“We are scared,” he said, looking up at the watchtower.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 20, 2024

The rope is thirty feet long, and this close to the base of the watchtower, the cliffs aren't as sheer.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023