guard

1 of 2

noun

ˈgärd 

1

: one assigned to protect or oversee another: such as

a

: a person or a body of persons on sentinel duty

Guards were posted around the camp.

b

guards plural : troops attached to the person of the sovereign

c

British : conductor sense b

2

a

: a defensive state or attitude

asked him out when his guard was down

b

: a defensive position (as in boxing)

3

a

: the act or duty of protecting or defending

b

: the state of being protected : protection

4

: a protective or safety device

specifically : a device for protecting a machine part or the operator of a machine

5

archaic : precaution

6

a

: a position or player next to the center in a football line

b

: a player stationed in the backcourt in basketball

guard

2 of 2

verb

guarded; guarding; guards

transitive verb

1

: to protect an edge of with an ornamental border

2

a

: to protect from danger especially by watchful attention : make secure

police guarding our cities

b

: to stand at the entrance of as if on guard or as a barrier

c

: to tend to carefully : preserve, protect

guarded their privacy

3

archaic : escort

4

a

: to watch over so as to prevent escape, disclosure, or indiscretion

guarded the prisoners.

b

: to attempt to prevent (an opponent) from playing effectively or scoring

intransitive verb

: to watch by way of caution or defense : stand guard

guard against mistakes

guarder noun

Phrases

off guard

: in an unprepared or unsuspecting state

Her angry response caught me off guard.

on guard

: defensively watchful : alert

is on guard against terrorists

Synonyms

Noun

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

Verb

• bulwark
• cover
• defend
• fence
• fend
• forfend
• keep
• protect
• safeguard
• screen
• secure
• shield
• ward

Choose the Right Synonym for guard

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack.

defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Examples of guard in a Sentence

Noun

There were dozens of police officers standing guard along the parade route.

Tourists gather every day to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

The guard must be in place before operating the meat slicer.

Verb

Two policemen were assigned to guard the prisoner.

A tank guarded the bridge from enemy attack.

A police officer was stationed outside to guard the door.

They jealously guard their secrets.

Her whereabouts are a tightly guarded secret.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Now, the 6-foot guard, who can play versatile at forward, is prepping to live out her dream of playing in the WNBA. —Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024

Injuries ravaged the roster, which included guard LaMelo Ball, who signed the most lucrative contract in Charlotte pro sports history before the season. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024

The Lakers guard had just gotten tangled up with Pelicans fan favorite and All-NBA pest Jose Alvarado, the two players both being called for technical fouls. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

The move caught its league and distribution partners off guard, with one partner, the Fubo TV, suing to block the JV. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024

In an Instagram post Thursday, original Blair Witch star Joshua Leonard said he was caught off guard by the recent CinemaCon news that Lionsgate and Blumhouse are reviving the horror franchise with a new movie. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024

Puni has experience at both tackle positions and left guard. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024

Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton finished with 12 points and eight assists, while shooting just 3 of 10 from the field and 2 of 7 from three-point range. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024

Dust accumulation was also observed on fan guards in a glass refrigerator, according to the report. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024

Verb

North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel said Davis’ ability to guard any position gave North Crowley flexibility. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2024

Kings guard Keon Ellis came off the bench to play the final 76 seconds in a season-opening win over the Utah Jazz and did not play at all in the next three games, but the situation in Sacramento has changed. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024

Las Vegas Aces guards Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young also attended April’s 5x5 team training camp after helping the United States win 3x3 gold in Tokyo. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Families of the children closely guard their privacy, with only rare online mentions or photos. —The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024

According to legend, the spire would guard the structure against enemy attacks and fires. —Christian Wienberg, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024

The Dolphins signed Tennessee’s Aaron Brewer to play center, but Brewer also can guard. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024

Marshall was trying to guard UConn star Paige Bueckers when Edwards attempted to set a screen that would have freed up space for Bueckers to get off a shot. —NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024

His subsequent sand wedge to within six feet of the flag was enough to clinch victory, McCarthy’s fightback suffering a watery end when his third shot plopped into the creek guarding the green. —Jack Bantock, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English garde, from Anglo-French garde, guarde, warde, from garder, guarder, warder, to guard, defend, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wartēn to watch, take care — more at ward

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1500, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing guard

• cattle guard
• coast guard
• color guard
• corporal's guard
• crossing guard
• guard against
• guard cell
• guard dog
• guard hair
• guard of honor
• guard's van
• have/keep one's guard up
• honor guard
• let down one's guard
• let one's guard down
• master chief petty officer of the coast guard
• national guard
• new guard
• off guard
• old guard
• on guard
• on guard against
• on one's guard
• point guard
• provost guard
• rear guard
• security guard
• shooting guard
• splash guard
• stand guard/watch
• the old guard
• under guard
• yeoman of the guard

Kids Definition

guard

1 of 2 noun

ˈgärd 

1

: an attitude or state of defense

asked dad for money when his guard was down

2

: the act or duty of protecting or defending

3

a

: a person who guards or a group of persons who guard

b

plural : a body of troops whose duties include guarding a head of state

4

a

: a football player who lines up next to the center

b

: either of two players stationed usually away from the basket in basketball

5

: a protective or safety device (as on a machine)

guard

2 of 2 verb

1

: to protect from danger : defend

2

: to watch over so as to restrict, control, or check

guard a prisoner

a closely guarded secret

guard one's tongue

3

: to try to keep (an opponent) from scoring

4

: to be on guard : take precautions

guard against infection