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
  • Supporters gather at watch parties At Rodriguez’ watch party, the crowded room was full of union members from Unite Here Local 355.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Instead of staging a watch party Tuesday night, Elleson and his wife, Sue, visited seriously ill people in Chicago-area hospitals.
    — Russell Lissau, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of watch
Noun
  • Hechinger, all raw nerve and watchfulness, announces himself as a star.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The multiple heads can be said to represent divine watchfulness of the world and devotees.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of watchfulness
Noun
  • Today, the typical marketing executive receives a constant stream of recommendations, performance alerts, audience opportunities, trend reports and predictive forecasts.
    — Tim Ringel, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Finally, the alert urges hospitals to have offline backups of their systems.
    — Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 6 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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