watcher

noun

watch·​er ˈwä-chər 

ˈwȯ-

: one that watches: such as

a

: one that sits up or continues awake at night

b

: watchman

c(1)

: one that keeps watch beside a dead person

(2)

: one that attends a sick person at night

d

: a person who closely follows or observes someone or something

a Supreme Court watcher

—often used in combination

celebrity-watchers

e

: a representative of a party or candidate who is stationed at the polls on an election day to watch the conduct of officials and voters

Synonyms of watcher

• guardian
• custodian
• guard
• keeper
• warden
• sentinel
• watch
• observer

Examples of watcher in a Sentence

the inexperienced babysitter turned out to be a well-meaning but hopelessly incompetent watcher of young children

a safari that affords wildlife watchers plenty of opportunities to see Africa's grandest creatures in their natural habitat

Recent Examples on the Web

Social media users, television watchers, highway drivers — most Americans, really, have been exposed at one point or another to a betting ad. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

Market watchers questioned the fairness of Sunway’s offer. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

But if the geomagnetic field becomes unsettled as predicted, aurora watchers across high northern latitudes could be treated to a vibrant light show. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026

That said, some market watchers still remain skeptical about whether the ceasefire would hold. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing watcher

• bird-watcher
• clock-watcher
• fire watcher