1
as in observing
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 following
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 monitoring
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 caring
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 supervising
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of watching
Your dreams are an act of resistance to those watching at home.
—
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
For Black artists — particularly the two Black actors standing on a global stage — hearing it in that setting, and then watching it be broadcast into homes, turned into a meme and shared on social media, carries a weight that does not disappear simply because the source lacked intent.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Afterwards, enjoy a green beer while watching Irish dancing.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
My fascination with beauty started at home, watching my immigrant parents treat grooming like armor.
—David Yi, Allure, 23 Feb. 2026
Mari, another tourist who asked to go by her first name for privacy reasons, said her young family had been sheltering in their vacation rental and watching the unrest unfold outside.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Like other cities, Pembroke Pines is closely watching the state’s push for property tax reform.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Last August, Ahmed found himself in Belarus, at the Polish border, watching a smuggler lean a ladder against a very high wall as members of the Belarusian border guard looked on.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Lue, too, offered solace after watching Mathurin’s shot miss its mark.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
For Black artists — particularly the two Black actors standing on a global stage — hearing it in that setting, and then watching it be broadcast into homes, turned into a meme and shared on social media, carries a weight that does not disappear simply because the source lacked intent.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Afterwards, enjoy a green beer while watching Irish dancing.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
My fascination with beauty started at home, watching my immigrant parents treat grooming like armor.
—David Yi, Allure, 23 Feb. 2026
Mari, another tourist who asked to go by her first name for privacy reasons, said her young family had been sheltering in their vacation rental and watching the unrest unfold outside.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Like other cities, Pembroke Pines is closely watching the state’s push for property tax reform.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Last August, Ahmed found himself in Belarus, at the Polish border, watching a smuggler lean a ladder against a very high wall as members of the Belarusian border guard looked on.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Lue, too, offered solace after watching Mathurin’s shot miss its mark.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watching
Verb
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Other images appeared to show Kim Ju Ae, wearing a leather jacket, observing through binoculars as her father took a shot, and helping present the rifles to others at the event.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
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The internet's shy celebrity has already begun to look like any other young macaque, scrambling, observing, and learning.—
Joshua Mellin,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump backed down from a threat to launch a military invasion following congressional blowback, tumbling stock prices and criticism from America's closest allies.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
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Within just two million years of the Great Dying, these animals had already conquered diverse global niches — showing how quickly life rebounded and radiated following the planet’s most severe mass extinction.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Outside of Puerto Vallarta, airlines were carefully monitoring flight operations on a case-by-case basis.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
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Local departments of social services were also cited for weaknesses in managing bank accounts, following procurement rules, monitoring contracts and ensuring lawful disbursements.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Snell described Heller as loving and caring.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
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One of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is an open mind, a caring heart, and opportunities to learn to think critically for themselves.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then, if that wasn't enough executive production for you, Helen Leigh and Cory Walker are also on board as co-executive producers, with Shaun O’Neil, Jeff Allen, and Dan Duncan serving as the series' supervising directors.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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The board is responsible for supervising the superintendent, stewarding the budget responsibly and creating policy that aligns with community values.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed gratitude in her State of the City address that the owners of a warehouse that ICE was eying as a detention facility had announced plans not to sell or lease the property to the federal government.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
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The American and Canadian men’s hockey teams have been eyeing each other since Connor McDavid’s overtime goal lifted Canada over the US in the 4 Nations tournament in Boston last February.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rodriguez acknowledged that the council is having difficult conversations around fiscal circumstances, noting there’s apprehension about reducing business tax revenue for the city.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Despite the friction, Knight emphasized her pride in the men’s gold-medal victory, noting that both teams should be celebrating a historic week for American hockey rather than navigating political fallout.—
Mia Fishman,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Economist has been covering markets, finance, and global affairs since 1843, watching rivals come and go from its perch.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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If that federal funding does not materialize, Maryland taxpayers will be left covering the shortfall through the state’s general fund.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watching. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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