to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens: to watch while an experiment is performed.
to look or wait attentively and expectantly (usually followed by for): to watch for a signal; to watch for an opportunity.
to be careful or cautious: Watch when you cross the street.
to keep awake, especially for a purpose; remain vigilant, as for protection or safekeeping: to watch with a sick person.
to keep vigil, as for devotional purposes.
to keep guard: She was assigned to watch at the door.
verb (used with object)
to keep under attentive view or observation, as in order to see or learn something; view attentively or with interest: to watch a play; to watch a football game.
to contemplate or regard mentally: to watch his progress.
to look or wait attentively and expectantly for: to watch one's opportunity.
to guard, tend, or oversee, especially for protection or safekeeping: to watch the baby.
noun
close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something: Their watch for the birds was unrewarding.
vigilant guard, as for protection or restraint: to keep watch for prowlers.
a keeping awake for some special purpose: a watch beside a sickbed.
a period of time for watching or keeping guard: to stand the first watch.
a small, portable timepiece, as a wrist watch or pocket watch.
a chronometer.
Nautical.
a period of time, usually four hours, during which one part of a ship's crew is on duty, taking turns with another part.
the officers and crew who attend to the working of a ship for an allotted period of time.
one of the periods, usually three or four, into which the night was divided in ancient times, as by the Greeks or Hebrews: the fourth watch of the night.
a person or group that watches, as a lookout, guard, or sentinel:A watch was posted at sunset.
Also called storm watch.Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that dangerous weather conditions are a possibility and that vigilance and precautionary preparations are advised: hurricane watch;tornado watch.Compare advisory (def. 5), warning (def. 3).
a flock of nightingales.
Verb Phrases
watch out,to be on one's guard; be cautious: Watch out for cars when you cross the road.
watch over,to guard for protection or safekeeping: She watched over us like a mother hen over her brood.
Idioms for watch
on the watch, vigilant; alert: The hunter was on the watch for game.
watch oneself,
to be cautious.
to practice discretion or self-restraint.
Origin of watch
First recorded before 900; 1580–90 for def. 15; (verb) Middle English wacchen, Old English wæccan, doublet of wacian “to be awake”; (noun) Middle English wacche, Old English wæcce, derivative of wæccan; see wake1
SYNONYMS FOR watch
9 await.
10 protect.
11 inspection, attention.
12 vigil.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR watch ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for watch
1. Watch,look,see imply being aware of things around one by perceiving them through the eyes. To watch is to be a spectator, to look on or observe, or to fix the attention upon during passage of time: to watch while a procession passes. To look is to direct the gaze with the intention of seeing, to use the eyesight with attention: to look for violets in the spring; to look at articles displayed for sale. To see is to perceive with the eyes, to obtain a visual impression, with or without fixing the attention: animals able to see in the dark.