Watch Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 6, 2024
Watch means to look at or observe attentively, often for a specific purpose. e.g., She likes to watch the birds in the garden.
Table of Contents
Watch Definitions
To look at over a period
He watches the stock market daily.
To guard or protect
The dog watches over the house at night.
To stay awake for a purpose
Nurses watch by patients' bedsides.
To regulate or oversee
She watches the children's playtime.
To maintain vigilance
Watch for signs of allergic reactions.
To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant
Watching for trail markers.
To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation
Watch for an opportunity.
To act as a spectator; look on
Stood by the road and watched.
To stay awake at night while serving as a guard, sentinel, or watcher.
To stay alert as a devotional or religious exercise; keep vigil.
To look at steadily; observe carefully or continuously
Watch a parade.
To guard, keep surveillance on, or spy on
Watched the prisoner all day.
Watched the house to see who came and went.
To observe the course of mentally; keep up on or informed about
Watch the price of gold.
To pay close attention to or be careful about, especially with regard to propriety
Watched his manners.
To tend or take care of (children or a flock of sheep, for example).
A portable or wearable timepiece.
More people today carry a watch on their wrists than in their pockets.
The act of guarding and observing someone or something.
A particular time period when guarding is kept.
The second watch of the night began at midnight.
A person or group of people who guard.
The watch stopped the travelers at the city gates.
The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
(nautical) A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.
(nautical) A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length; the officers and crew who tend the working of a vessel during the same watch. (FM 55–501).
The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.
(ambitransitive) To look at, see, or view for a period of time.
Watching the clock will not make time go faster.
I'm tired of watching TV.
(transitive) To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.
Watch this!
Put a little baking soda in some vinegar and watch what happens.
(transitive) To mind, attend, or guard.
Please watch my suitcase for a minute.
He has to watch the kids that afternoon.
(transitive) To be wary or cautious of.
You should watch that guy. He has a reputation for lying.
(transitive) To attend to dangers to or regarding.
Watch your head; watch your step
Watch yourself when you talk to him.
Watch what you say.
(intransitive) To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil. en
(intransitive) To be vigilant or on one's guard.
For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away.
(intransitive) To act as a lookout.
To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.
To be awake.
To be on the lookout for; to wait for expectantly.
The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night.
Shepherds keeping watch by night.
All the long night their mournful watch they keep.
Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward.
Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins when ward ends, and ends when that begins.
One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
He upbraids Iago, that he made himBrave me upon the watch.
The period of the night during which a person does duty as a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.
I did stand my watch upon the hill.
Might we but hear . . . Or whistle from the lodge, or village cockCount the night watches to his feathery dames.
A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.
An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf. Dogwatch.
To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.
I have two nights watched with you.
Couldest thou not watch one hour ?
To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.
Take ye heed, watch and pray.
The Son gave signal highTo the bright minister that watched.
To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.
To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever.
To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; - said of a buoy.
To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him, and to slay him.
I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity.
In lazy mood I watched the little circles die.
To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.
And flaming ministers, to watch and tendTheir earthy charge.
Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida.
A small portable timepiece
A period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty
A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
The period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty
A person employed to watch for something to happen
A devotional watch (especially on the eve of a religious festival)
Look attentively;
Watch a basketball game
Follow with the eyes or the mind;
Keep an eye on the baby, please!
The world is watching Sarajevo
She followed the men with the binoculars
See or watch;
View a show on television
This program will be seen all over the world
View an exhibition
Catch a show on Broadway
See a movie
Observe with attention;
They watched as the murderer was executed
Be vigilant, be on the lookout, be on one's guard, be careful;
Watch out for pickpockets!
Observe or determine by looking;
Watch how the dog chases the cats away
Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort;
I want to see whether she speaks French
See whether it works
Find out if he speaks Russian
Check whether the train leaves on time
To observe carefully
They watch the skies for signs of a storm.
To keep under surveillance
The police watch the suspect's house.
To pay close attention to
Watch your step on the icy sidewalk.
To follow with interest
Fans watch their favorite team's games.
To be a spectator of an event
Millions watch the Olympic Games.
Watch Snonyms
Survey
To look carefully and thoroughly at (someone or something), especially so as to appraise them.
He surveyed the landscape for signs of wildlife.
Inspect
To look at (someone or something) closely, typically to assess their condition or to discover any shortcomings.
The mechanic inspected the car for defects.
View
To look at or inspect.
View the painting closely to see all its details.
Monitor
To keep under systematic review, especially for protection or control.
They monitor the patient's heart rate continuously.
Observe
To notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.
She observed the behavior of the chimpanzees.
Scan
To look at all parts of (something) carefully in order to detect some feature.
He scanned the horizon for any sign of the boat.
Gaze
To look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought.
She gazed at the stars all night.
Scrutinize
To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Lawyers scrutinize the documents for any loopholes.
Witness
To see (an event, typically a crime or accident) happen.
She was the only one to witness the accident.
Eye
To look at or watch closely or with interest.
The cat eyed the mouse warily.
Watch Idioms & Phrases
Watch your step
Be careful where you walk or in your actions.
With the floor wet, watch your step to avoid slipping.
Keep watch
To remain vigilant or on guard.
The sentry kept watch throughout the night.
Watch one's mouth
To be careful about what one says.
You better watch your mouth in front of the boss.
Watch the world go by
To observe life and events without participation.
Sitting at the café, they watched the world go by.
Watch the clock
To frequently check the time, often eager for something to end.
On Fridays, everyone seems to watch the clock.
Watch like a hawk
To observe very closely or attentively.
The teacher watches the students like a hawk during exams.
Watch your back
Be cautious of betrayal or danger.
In competitive environments, it's wise to watch your back.
Watch over
To protect or guard someone or something.
Grandparents love to watch over their grandchildren.
Under watch
Being observed or monitored.
The artifact is under watch to prevent theft.
Watch one's weight
To be mindful of one's diet to control weight.
After the holidays, many people watch their weight.
Watch for
To look out for something or someone.
Watch for the delivery truck in the afternoon.
On the watch
Being alert or looking out for something.
The community is on the watch for suspicious activities.
Watch in awe
To observe something with amazement.
They watched in awe as the fireworks lit up the sky.
Watch one's step
To act with caution and awareness.
In negotiations, it's important to watch one's step.
Watch from the sidelines
To observe an event or situation without participating.
I prefer to watch from the sidelines during debates.
Night watch
A guard duty during the night.
The security guard is on night watch at the warehouse.
Watch your tongue
Similar to "watch your mouth," advising caution in speech.
You should watch your tongue around sensitive topics.
Watch one's P's and Q's
To be careful about one's manners and language.
When visiting, you should watch your P's and Q's.
Watch out
To be cautious or aware of something.
Watch out for the ice on the sidewalk.
Watch and learn
To observe and learn from someone's actions.
Just watch and learn how the expert does it.
Watch Example Sentences
Scientists watch the volcano for activity.
You should watch the road while driving.
Athletes watch their diet and exercise routines.
The security cameras watch the entrance.
The cat watches the fish in the aquarium.
She watches for the mailman every afternoon.
They watch the stars through a telescope.
They watch TV together every evening.
We watch the sunset from the balcony.
Parents watch their children play in the park.
Tourists watch the parade from the sidelines.
Kids watch cartoons on Saturday mornings.
The community watches out for each other.
He watches over the project's progress.
I watch my spending carefully.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called watch?
It's called watch from the Old English 'wæccan', meaning to be awake or vigilant, reflecting the act of observing or guarding.
How many syllables are in watch?
There is one syllable in watch.
How do we divide watch into syllables?
Watch is a single syllable word and is not divided.
How is watch used in a sentence?
Watch is used to describe the act of observing attentively, e.g., They like to watch the sunrise together.
What is a stressed syllable in watch?
Since watch is a single syllable word, the entire word is stressed.
What is the verb form of watch?
Watch is itself a verb in its base form.
What part of speech is watch?
Watch is a verb.
What is the singular form of watch?
Watch does not have a singular or plural form; it remains the same as it is a verb.
What is another term for watch?
Another term for watch is observe.
What is the first form of watch?
The first form of watch is watch (base form).
Is watch an abstract noun?
No, watch in its noun form refers to a tangible object, a timepiece.
What is the pronunciation of watch?
Watch is pronounced as /wɒtʃ/ (UK) or /wɑːtʃ/ (US).
What is the root word of watch?
The root of watch is from the Old English word 'wæccan', which means to be awake or vigilant.
What is the third form of watch?
The third form of watch is watched (past participle).
Is watch a negative or positive word?
Watch is generally neutral but can have positive or negative connotations depending on the context.
Is the word “watch” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Watch can serve as a direct object when it is the action being performed, e.g., "I like to watch."
Which determiner is used with watch?
Determiners like "the," "a," or possessive pronouns can be used with watch, e.g., "the watch on your wrist."
Which vowel is used before watch?
The vowel "a" is commonly used before watch, as in "a watch."
Is watch a vowel or consonant?
The word watch starts with a consonant.
Is watch a noun or adjective?
Watch is primarily a verb, but it can also be a noun when referring to a timepiece worn on the wrist.
Is the watch term a metaphor?
Watch can be used metaphorically in contexts like "watching over someone" meaning to protect or guard them.
Is the word watch Gerund?
The gerund form of watch is watching.
Which conjunction is used with watch?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "while" can be used with watch to connect clauses, e.g., "watch and learn," "watch but don't touch," or "watch while I show you."
What is the plural form of watch?
Watch does not have a plural form as it is a verb.
What is the opposite of watch?
The opposite of watch could be ignore or overlook.
Is watch an adverb?
No, watch is not an adverb.
Is watch a countable noun?
Yes, when watch is used as a noun referring to a timepiece, it is countable.
Is watch a collective noun?
No, watch is not a collective noun.
What is the second form of watch?
The second form of watch is watched (past simple).
Is the word watch imperative?
Watch can be used in the imperative mood when giving commands, e.g., "Watch the stove while I'm gone."
Which preposition is used with watch?
Prepositions like "for," "over," or "at" can be used with watch, e.g., "watch for signs," "watch over the house," or "watch at the window."
Which article is used with watch?
The articles "a" or "the" can be used with watch, depending on whether it refers to a specific timepiece or any watch, e.g., "a watch" or "the watch you gave me."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
