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

• 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

European shares surged in the first half of the year, massively outperforming stocks on Wall Street — but market watchers are divided on the potential for the trend to continue. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 July 2025

In the wake of the strikes, experts and watchers of Iran's nuclear program raised questions of what happened to the 880 pounds of enriched uranium believed to be deeply buried in underground tunnels at Isfahan. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 27 June 2025

The Big Dipper, which is a common orientation point for Northern Hemisphere sky watchers, is in the northeast, about two thirds of the way to the zenith from the horizon. —Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 25 June 2025

Hundreds of restaurant owners, chefs, bakers, sommeliers — along with foodies and industry watchers — will gather at 6 p.m. at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center to find out. —Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing watcher

• bird-watcher
• clock-watcher