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

Legal scholars and court watchers were shocked by our finding. — Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 1 July 2026

If the skies are clear, aurora watchers should look north, avoid bright lights, and use long-exposure settings on their phones or cameras. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

After a set period of time, like 15 minutes, rotate water-watchers. — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 1 July 2026

The labor market has proved stronger than expected the past few months, which has investors and Fed-watchers expecting interest-rate hikes later this year. — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing watcher

• bird-watcher
• clock-watcher
• fire watcher