1
as in to observe
to keep one's eyes on
I turned my head to continue watching the bird as it flew away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to follow
to take notice of and be guided by
watch what I do when I run into that kind of problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to monitor
to pay continued close attention to (something) for a particular purpose
watched the situation to see if it improved
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to care
to have an interest or concern for
you should watch what you eat if you want a long, healthy life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to supervise
to take charge of especially on behalf of another
hired a high school girl to watch their daughter until they got home from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in guard
a person or group that watches over someone or something
the neighborhood crime watch
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in watchfulness
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of activity, opportunity, or danger
kept a watch over the sick baby
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lookout
an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity
the little boy kept watch at the window for signs of Santa and his sleigh
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of watch
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Divine Deablo often spends his nights watching old Super Bowls with a bowl of cereal in hand.
—Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 4 June 2026
So what does this mean for any watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden?
—Ali Bauman, CBS News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watch
Verb
Travelers leave with both a finished object and, crucially, the muscle memory of having actually done it — not just watched it being done.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Divine Deablo often spends his nights watching old Super Bowls with a bowl of cereal in hand.
—Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
Noun
The other week, the city banned watch parties outside Madison Square Garden because the crowds were getting too rowdy.
—Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 4 June 2026
So what does this mean for any watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden?
—Ali Bauman, CBS News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watch
Verb
-
An entire mission directing six blasts against three Russian frontline targets in eastern Ukraine will involve no Ukrainian troops on the ground, the battle instead directed from gamer chairs, observed from reconnaissance drones above, run over dedicated livestreams.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Then be sure to read our picks of the best telescopes and binoculars for exploring the night sky, along with our beginner's guide to observing the moon!—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Both were able to spot tracks, on dusty roads, and follow the tracks to successfully find wildlife.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images European stocks followed global peers lower on Friday as investors monitor a global sell-off in chipmaking tech names.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
The captain was flying the aircraft while the first officer monitored the flight instruments during the gusty approach.—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Consumers want food with a backstory People increasingly care about where their food comes from, who produced it and how it was raised or grown.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, surveys indicate that US car buyers are aware of the concerns but don’t care.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Color grading was supervised by Indian National Film Award-winning cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 June 2026
-
Put it to work now, but supervise it like junior talent.—
Brian Solis,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Liveried guards greet you at the grand entrance and breeze through ‘hello’ in any number of languages.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The Illini have the nation’s best backup big in Zvonimir Ivisic and need to hit on just one or two of their four freshman guards to round out the rotation.—
CJ Moore
June 2,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
-
In nine short, potent chapters, Beckerman lays out the essential traits of an effective dissident — loyalty, recklessness and watchfulness, among them — to illustrate how communities of resistance are built from the ground up.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
And now everyone was on the lookout for it.—
Olivia Potts,
Longreads,
28 May 2026
-
Neighboring agencies were alerted to be on the lookout for the vehicle.—
Jose Fabian,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watch. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
