watchful
/ˈwɒtʃfʊl
/ /ˈwɒtʃf(ə)l/adjective
1Watching someone or something closely; alert and vigilant: they attended dances under the watchful eye of their father...
- Also we ask all parishioners to be vigilant and keep a watchful eye on this amenity.
- There really wasn't anything she could do, except be more alert and keep a watchful eye.
- Police officers in small groups stood around keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings, an unobtrusive presence.
Synonyms
observant, alert, vigilant, attentive, perceptive;
awake, wakeful, aware, heedful, sharp;
sharp-eyed, keen-eyed, eagle-eyed, hawk-eyed, gimlet-eyed, with one's eyes open;
on the lookout, on the qui vive, wary, cautious, careful, suspicious, circumspect, chary
informal with one's eyes skinned/peeled
1.1 archaic Wakeful; sleepless.
Derivatives
watchfully
/ adverb ...- The entrants would have to be ever conscious of the struggle, and tread carefully and watchfully.
- Matthew carefully and watchfully walked out the door.
- Familiar with the production process, he got his shots by hovering watchfully near potential moments, camera ready.
watchfulness
/ /ˈwɒtʃf(ə)lnəs/ noun ...- But I also admire traits that his partner will come to know far better than me: the intelligence, the watchfulness, the care.
- The mood in security circles was one of watchfulness and preparation for swift but discreet action.
- But the downside of such watchfulness is gossip as everybody in the small community knows everybody else's business and a few mean souls take advantage of the information they gather about other people's lives.