invigilate

1 of 2

verb

in·​vig·​i·​late in-ˈvi-jə-ˌlāt 

invigilated; invigilating

intransitive verb

: to keep watch

especially, British : to supervise students at an examination

transitive verb

: supervise, monitor

invigilation

in-ˌvi-jə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

invigilator

in-ˈvi-jə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

invigilation

2 of 2

noun

in·​vig·​i·​la·​tion (ˌ)inˌvijəˈlāshən 

ənˌv-

plural -s

: an act of surveillance

specifically : the proctoring of an examination

Did you know?

Watch Out for the Origin of Invigilate

Invigilate is a descendant of the Latin verb vigilare, meaning "to stay awake." As you may have guessed, vigilare is the ancestor of our adjective vigilant ("alertly watchful"), and it also gives us reveille ("a signal to wake up in the morning," via French réveillez) and surveillance ("close watch, supervision," via French surveiller). Invigilate has been a member of the English language since the mid-16th century.

Examples of invigilate in a Sentence

Verb

He was asked to invigilate next week.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin invigilatus, past participle of invigilare to stay awake, be watchful, from in- + vigilare to stay awake — more at vigilant

First Known Use

Verb

1553, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for invigilate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!