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

The beaches are also great for swimming and shelling, and the free Venice Fishing Pier draws anglers as well as wildlife watchers and sunset viewers. —Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 16 May 2026

Various developments are weighing on sentiment, investors and analysts watchers told CNBC on Friday. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 15 May 2026

All of this is visible to amateur astronomers and sky watchers. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026

Think, dear reader, of the actor Matthew Rhys, who just this week gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal decrying, quite rightly, the lack of headphone use running rampant among video watchers in public spaces the world over. —Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing watcher

• bird-watcher
• clock-watcher
• fire watcher