vigilant

adjective

vig·i·lant | \ ˈvi-jə-lənt

Definition of vigilant

: alertly watchful especially to avoid danger

Other Words from vigilant Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about vigilant

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Synonyms & Antonyms for vigilant

Synonyms

alert, Argus-eyed, attentive, awake, observant, open-eyed, tenty (also tentie) [Scottish], watchful, wide-awake

Antonyms

asleep

Choose the Right Synonym for vigilant

watchful, vigilant, wide-awake, alert mean being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity. watchful is the least explicit term. the watchful eye of the department supervisor vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness. eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers. wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity. alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

Examples of vigilant in a Sentence

Over the years, as tension between pitchers and hit batsmen heightened to the point that hitters began rushing the mound, umpires have had to become far more vigilant about keeping the game from degenerating into a dogfight. — Buzz Bissinger, Sports Illustrated, 21 Mar. 2005 At the Château de Wideville's magnificent seventeenth-century gates, guests have their names ticked off by vigilant staff and then snake through a lugubrious park à l'anglaise. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, September 2002 And as a foreign tourist in North Korea, under the care of vigilant minders who wanted me to see only the best, I had enjoyed the finest fare available. — Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair, January 2001 A vigilant hand had, as usual, kept the fire alive and the lamp trimmed; and the room, with its rows and rows of books, its bronze and steel statuettes of "The Fencers" on the mantelpiece and its many photographs of famous pictures, looked singularly home-like and welcoming. — Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence, 1920 When traveling through the city, tourists should be extra vigilant. They were vigilant about protecting their children. We remain vigilant against theft.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the Feds grow closer to convicting him, Ghost must remain vigilant toward those wanting to take him down for his past criminal enterprises. — Paula Rogo, Essence, "The Cast Of 'Power' Dropped The Official Season 6 Trailer At Essence Festival And Now You Can Watch It!," 7 July 2019 But even the most vigilant individual can inadvertently eat something that could trigger a severe reaction and require a shot of lifesaving epinephrine followed by a visit to the emergency department. — STAT, "Assessing the value of new food allergy treatments must include quality of life," 20 June 2019 The whole thing felt like a thinking person's Diablo, in terms of thinking one step ahead of vigilant nearby enemies and juggling multiple characters' special limited abilities. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "After 8Chan-gate, THQN unveils stirring anti-Nazi game set in 1930s Germany," 11 June 2019 Its Jewish author’s vigilant attention to the anti-Semitism perpetrated by both systems embarrassed Soviet apparatchiks for decades. — The Economist, "Vasily Grossman, the greatest bard of the second world war," 7 June 2019 Claudio takes pride in his physical abilities, describing himself as quick on his feet and vigilant, but there were still hurdles to overcome on the mountain. — Ysabelle Kempe, BostonGlobe.com, "What does it take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro when you’re blind?," 5 June 2019 Torres said apiarists should report thefts to authorities immediately and be vigilant to protect themselves against crime. — Lucas Foglia, National Geographic, "Beekeepers hit hard by thefts of hives," 3 May 2019 Being proactive and vigilant about your health makes a difference. — Alejandra Campoverdi, Glamour, "I Beat Breast Cancer Before I Even Knew I Had It," 29 Apr. 2019 Plus, there was concern that parents would become less vigilant about supervising a child who had taken swim lessons. — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, "This Is the Age Your Kids Should Start Swimming Lessons," 3 Apr. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vigilant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

19 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for vigilant

The first known use of vigilant was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for vigilant

vigilant

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of vigilant

: carefully noticing problems or signs of danger

See the full definition for vigilant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

vigilant

adjective

vig·i·lant | \ ˈvi-jə-lənt

Kids Definition of vigilant

: alert especially to avoid danger … he was constantly vigilant, looking for the next nearest hiding place should the sound of engines come.— Lois Lowry, The Giver