watch

1 of 2

verb

ˈwäch 

ˈwȯch

watched; watching; watches

intransitive verb

1

a

: to keep vigil as a devotional exercise

b

: to be awake during the night

2

a

: to be attentive or vigilant

b

: to keep guard

3

a

: to keep someone or something under close observation

b

: to observe as a spectator

the country watched as stocks fell sharply

4

: to be expectant : wait

watch for the signal

transitive verb

1

: to keep under guard

2

a

: to observe closely in order to check on action or change

being watched by the police

b

: to look at : observe

sat and watched the crowd

c

: to look on at

watch television

watch a ball game

3

a

: to take care of : tend

b

: to be careful of

watches his diet

4

: to be on the alert for : bide

watched her opportunity

watch

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act of keeping awake to guard, protect, or attend

b

obsolete : the state of being wakeful

c

: a wake over a dead body

d

: a state of alert and continuous attention

e

: close observation : surveillance

f

: a notice or bulletin that alerts the public to the possibility of severe weather conditions occurring in the near future

a winter storm watch

2

a

: any of the definite divisions of the night made by ancient peoples

b

: one of the indeterminate intervals marking the passage of night

—usually used in plural

the silent watches of the night

3

a

: lookout, watchman

b

archaic : the office or function of a sentinel or guard

4

a

: a body of soldiers or sentinels making up a guard

b

: a watchman or body of watchmen formerly assigned to patrol the streets of a town at night, announce the hours, and act as police

5

a(1)

: a portion of time during which a part of a ship's company is on duty

(2)

: the part of a ship's company required to be on duty during a particular watch

(3)

: a sailor's assigned duty period

b

: a period of duty : shift

c

: a term as holder especially of an overseeing or managerial office

the business grew on her watch

6

: a portable timepiece designed to be worn (as on the wrist) or carried in the pocket compare clock

Phrases

watch it

: look out : be careful

watch it when you handle the glassware

watch one's step

: to proceed with extreme care : act or talk warily

watch over

: to have charge of : superintend

Synonyms

Verb

• eye
• follow
• observe

Noun

• custodian
• guard
• guardian
• keeper
• lookout
• minder
• picket
• sentinel
• sentry
• warden
• warder
• watcher
• watchman

Examples of watch in a Sentence

Verb

They have a rookie on the team who is fun to watch.

I fell asleep watching television.

What movie are you watching?

“Mom, watch me do a cartwheel!”

She sat and watched the children play.

“Would you like to play, too?” “No, I'll just watch.”

Just sit back and watch.

Keep watching to see what happens next.

“What happens next?” “Watch and see.”

People are watching this presidential race very carefully.

Noun

He glanced at his watch.

When you're driving in winter you should always be on the watch for ice on the roads.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

A week later a record 2.45 million viewers on average tuned in to the WNBA draft to watch as Clark went to the Indiana Fever as the No. 1 pick. —Claire Rush, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024

Per Yahoo Sports, Franklin started in Gaithersburg, Md. with Fashanu, 21, and his family to watch him get drafted by the New York Jets as the 11th overall pick in the NFL draft. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024

One day, Elo-Rivera watched a moving truck pull up by their house in Huntington Beach to cart off belongings, a beloved Ken Griffey Jr. baseball card included. —Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024

Goff proceeds to carefully watch tips on things like being spontaneous and stealing a police helicopter as Murphy's comedic mayhem is seen in quick glimpses. —Julie Hinds, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024

One May afternoon in 2004, in Florida, my four children – all under the age of 7 – were sitting at home watching Veggie Tales. —Essence, 26 Apr. 2024

Viewers watched the Abbott matriarch slowly and heartbreakingly unravel before dying in an episode in October 2020. —Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024

The men push the seemingly fragile rocks down the canyon twice, destroying the formations to rubble as the group of three watch it without much visible reaction. —The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024

Tourists still come from across the world to see the Sistine Chapel, and millions of people still watch Seinfeld and Friends on streaming services. —Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024

Noun

On Saturday at 11:48 p.m. the NWS Fort Worth TX issued a tornado watch in effect until Sunday at 3 a.m. —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2024

There is a tornado watch in effect for parts of six states, from Texas to Iowa into the late evening. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2024

The pocket watch, recovered from Russian immigrant Sinai Kantor, sold for about $118,700. —Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024

Accessorize with simple jewelry, such as stud earrings and a watch, and wear closed-toe pumps or flats for footwear. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 26 Apr. 2024

What is the difference between a freeze watch and freeze warning? —Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 24 Apr. 2024

The watch came from the collection of Auro Montanari, one of the world’s most prominent collectors and a watch scholar. —Andy Hoffman, Fortune Europe, 22 Apr. 2024

Created 20 years ago, Louis Vuitton’s watch division was meant to change the narrative of watch collectors not taking luxury jewelry brands seriously. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

Lucky for you, said watches will soon be up for grabs. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæccan — more at wake

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing watch

• binge-watch
• bird-watch
• hate-watch
• keep a close watch/eye
• keep a close watch over
• keep a watch out for
• keep watch
• keep watch on
• neighborhood watch
• on the watch for
• stand guard/watch
• watch and ward
• watch cap
• watch fire
• watch for
• watch it
• watch list
• watch night
• watch one's back
• watch oneself
• watch one's language
• watch one's language/mouth/tongue
• watch one's mouth
• watch one's p's and q's
• watch one's step
• watch one's tongue
• watch one's weight
• watch out
• watch over
• watch pocket
• watch (someone or something) like a hawk
• watch someone's back
• watch the clock
• watch what one eats
• whale watch
• you watch

Kids Definition

watch

1 of 2 verb

ˈwäch 

ˈwȯch

1

: to stay awake especially during the night (as at the bedside of a sick person)

2

: to be on the alert or on the lookout

3

: to keep guard

watch outside the door

4

: to keep one's eyes on : keep in view

watch a game

5

: to keep in view so as to prevent harm or warn of danger

watch a brush fire carefully

6

: to keep oneself informed about

watch his career

7

: to be on the alert for the chance to make use of

watched her opportunity and took it

watcher noun

watch

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of keeping awake to guard, protect, or attend

b

: a state of alert and continuous attention

a tornado watch

c

: close observation

kept a watch over the prisoner

2

a

: watchman

b

: a body of watchmen

3

a

: a period during which a part of a ship's company is on duty

b

: the part of a ship's company on duty during a watch

4

: a portable timepiece designed to be worn (as on the wrist) or carried in the pocket