watched; watching; watches
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
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
see also:
Examples of watch in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kemp, who is Black, recalled watching his mother vote in Birmingham, Alabama, for the first time shortly after the dissolution of voting restrictions.
—
Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
The United States is hosting the World Cup for the first time in more than 30 years, and organizations and businesses in Metro Detroit are making sure sports fans have a place to watch the competition.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The Little Nell is an après ski hot spot and one of the best people-watching spots in town.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
Fans young and old gathered under the KC Live canopy Thursday to watch as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watch
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
The United States is hosting the World Cup for the first time in more than 30 years, and organizations and businesses in Metro Detroit are making sure sports fans have a place to watch the competition.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The Little Nell is an après ski hot spot and one of the best people-watching spots in town.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
Fans young and old gathered under the KC Live canopy Thursday to watch as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watch
Cite this Entry
“Watch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watch. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
watch
1 of 2 verb
ˈwäch 
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 noun1
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
: watchman
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
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