qui vive

noun

kē-ˈvēv How to pronounce qui vive (audio)
Definition of qui vivenext
as in watch
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger an army on the qui vive for enemy attack

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for qui vive
  1. watch
  2. watchfulness
  3. alert
Noun
  • Investors will be keeping a close watch on the listing of SBI Fund Management next week, as strong post IPO gains would increase appetite for new issues.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Co-owner Jeff Lyell closed a block of Morgan Ford Road and rolled in a massive screen, creating one of the city's largest and most authentic watch parties.
    — Meredith Nierman, NPR, 17 July 2026
Definition of watch
Noun
  • But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow.
    — Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of watchfulness
Noun
  • Its interior ministry previously reported that air alert sirens had been activated multiple times into Saturday morning local time.
    — Monica Haider, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The city fell under a dangerous, code red air quality alert Thursday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting southeast from Ontario.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026
Definition of alert
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.

Browse Nearby Words

quivers
qui vive
quixote
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Cite this Entry

“Qui vive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/qui%20vive. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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