watchful

1 of 2

adjective

watch·​ful ˈwäch-fəl 

ˈwȯch-

1

archaic

a

: not able or accustomed to sleep or rest : wakeful

b

: causing sleeplessness

c

: spent in wakefulness : sleepless

2

: carefully observant or attentive : being on the watch

watchfully

ˈwäch-fə-lē 

ˈwȯch-

adverb

watchfulness noun

watchfulness

2 of 2

noun

watch·​ful·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being watchful

Synonyms of watchful

Adjective

• alert
• vigilant
• awake
• careful

Choose the Right Synonym for watchful

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 watchful in a Sentence

Adjective

We need to be more watchful of our children.

The hotel is being built under the watchful eye of its architect.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

An afternoon at Barton Springs will feel just like childhood summers spent at the neighborhood pool or camp lake with locals swimming laps, kids cannonballing off the diving board, and lifeguards with their watchful eye. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026

Only one player will win the $750,000 prize, but the opportunity to compete under the watchful eye of a giant animatronic named Otev can only be described as priceless. — Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026

Erik Per Sullivan stars as Miles, the watchful 10-year-old son of photographer George (Jack Webster) and therapist Kim (Patricia Clarkson), whose life is irrevocably altered in the course of a snowbound upstate vacation. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Her husband, one of the top high school baseball coaches in the country, kept a watchful eye. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing watchful

• keep a watchful eye on (someone or something)
• under the watchful/vigilant eye of

Kids Definition

watchful

adjective

watch·​ful ˈwäch-fəl 

ˈwȯch-

: continually on the lookout especially for danger

watchfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

watchfulness noun