watch

1 of 2

verb

ˈwäch How to pronounce watch (audio)
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
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

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
On a positive note, all of you early risers out there can watch the sunrise this morning. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 Six-year-olds will have a blast watching Captain America, Wonder Woman, and more of their favorite superheroes come to life. Erica Puisis, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Where to watch The Last Temptation of Christ: Peacock 3. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 In video footage from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent, obtained by Fox News, cartel members were seen watching the National Guards helicopter plummet to the ground with their drone. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024 After last year’s long strikes by SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America, the industry has been warily watching the AFM negotiations as a precursor to contract talks later this year with IATSE and Hollywood Teamsters. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 Note: Click here to watch to the full interview with Gareth Higgins and Ari Weinzweig. John Baldoni, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Mothers who have confided in Nemer report their kids constantly asking to watch the news or role-playing the war by forming gangs and fighting in schools. TIME, 27 Feb. 2024 Last summer, the pair watched the Royal Ascot with King Charles and Queen Camilla from the Royal Box and stepped out again for a Chanel exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
This is precisely what inspired longtime watch enthusiast and collector Thomas Fleming to realize his dream of creating his own watch brand. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Cavanaugh’s downfall was followed by the disaster of Mayor Roman Gribbs, a Democrat elected in 1970, and under whose watch STRESS was born. Keith A. Owens, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2024 Millions of Americans, with grunts or glee, tap at their devices or wind their watch hands, manually — and mentally — changing the time to reflect a change in seasons. Diba Mohtasham, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Yet Shanley, having attended church schools in the Bronx, has calibrated the play’s arguments, and the timing of its revelations, like a fine watch he's studied for years. Jesse Green, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 As much as color helped men stake their individuality, jewelry and watches made some shine more than others. Marc Malkin, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Pan’s watch party of about a dozen supporters at a North Natomas restaurant was celebratory when the first results were posted to the county’s website just after 8 p.m. Sen. Angelique Ashby was standing next to Pan, looking at her phone. Theresa Clift, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 Heavier rain is forecast to fall to our northeast, including in southern New England, where flood watches are up for Hartford, Conn.; Providence, R.I.; and Boston, among other spots. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Yearly unanswered 911 calls spiked under Mitchell’s watch while the number of 911 dispatcher positions fell, according to KCBD. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'watch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of watch was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near watch

Cite this Entry

“Watch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watch. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

watch

1 of 2 verb
ˈwäch How to pronounce watch (audio)
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on watch

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