watch

verb

/wɒtʃ/

/wɑːtʃ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they watch	/wɒtʃ/ /wɑːtʃ/
he / she / it watches	/ˈwɒtʃɪz/ /ˈwɑːtʃɪz/
past simple watched	/wɒtʃt/ /wɑːtʃt/
past participle watched	/wɒtʃt/ /wɑːtʃt/
-ing form watching	/ˈwɒtʃɪŋ/ /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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[transitive, intransitive] to look at somebody/something for a time, paying attention to what happens
- watch somebody/something I was in the living room, watching TV.
- A large crowd watched the game on Saturday.
- to watch a film/movie/video/show
- The film is well made and fun to watch—just don't expect a classic.
- He sat on the ground and watched me with great interest.
- watch something for something He watched the house for signs of activity.
- watch (for something) He watched for signs of activity in the house.
- ‘Would you like to play?’ ‘No thanks—I'll just watch.’
- She stood and watched as the taxi drove off.
- We watched to see what would happen next.
- watch what, how, etc… Watch what I do, then you try.
- watch somebody/something doing something She watched the kids playing in the yard.
- watch somebody/something do something They watched the bus disappear into the distance.
Synonyms look
look
- watch
- see
- view
- observe
These words all mean to turn your eyes in a particular direction.
- look to turn your eyes in a particular direction:
  If you look carefully you can just see our house from here.
  She looked at me and smiled.
- watch to look at somebody/something for a time, paying attention to what happens:
  to watch television
  Watch what I do, then you try.
- see to watch a game, television programme, performance, etc.:
  In the evening we went to see a movie.
- view (formal) to look at something, especially when you look carefully; to watch television, a film, etc.:
  People came from all over the world to view her work.
watch, see or view?You can see/view a film/programme but you cannot: see/view television. View is more formal than see and is used especially in business contexts.
- observe (formal) to watch somebody/something carefully, especially to learn more about them or it:
  The patients were observed over a period of several months.
Patterns
- to look/watch for somebody/something
- to watch/observe what/who/how…
- to look/watch/view/observe (somebody/something) with amazement/surprise/disapproval, etc.
- to watch/see/view a film/show/programme
- to watch/see a match/game/fight
- to look (at somebody/something)/watch (somebody/something)/observe somebody/something carefully/closely
Extra Examples
- He couldn't get in touch with her, so he would just have to watch and wait.
- He leant in and kissed her as I watched enviously.
- He let me watch while he assembled the model.
- He watched with great interest how she coaxed the animals inside.
- I could see Robby watching curiously.
- I spent hours patiently watching the eagles.
- My father religiously watched the show every Friday night.
- She stood and watched them walk off down the road.
- She watched helplessly as her husband was dragged away.
- She watched in astonishment as he smashed the machine to pieces.
- She watched the man closely to see where he would go.
- The women were made to watch while their children were slaughtered.
- They could only watch in silence as their possessions were taken away.
- They stopped to watch the procession go by.
- They watched from an upstairs window.
- We watched for any sign of change in the weather.
- the most widely watched national news bulletins in the country
- A capacity crowd watched the semi-final.
- I only let my kids watch television at the weekends.
- This initiative is being closely watched by government regulators.
Topics TV, radio and newsa1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- carefully
- closely
- attentively
- …
verb + watch
- could only
- continue to
- pause to
- …
preposition
- for
- from
- in
- …
phrases
- sit and watch
- stand and watch
- watch and wait
- …
See full entry
[transitive] to take care of somebody/something for a short time
- watch somebody/something for somebody Could you watch my bags for me while I buy a paper?
- watch something It's OK, I can watch the baby for a while.
(British English also mind)
[transitive] (informal) to be careful about something
- watch yourself Watch yourself! (= be careful, because you're in a dangerous situation)
- watch something Watch your bag—there are thieves around.
- Watch your head on the low ceiling.
- I have to watch every penny (= be careful what I spend).
- watch where, what, etc… Hey, watch where you're going!
[transitive, intransitive] to pay attention to a situation so that you notice any changes
- watch something We're watching the situation very carefully.
- This election is being closely watched in the region.
- The food retail sector is one to watch.
- watch for something We'll watch for any developments.
[often passive] (often in the progressive tenses) to observe somebody's activities without their knowledge, especially over a period of time
- be (being) watched He didn't know he was being watched by the authorities.

Word OriginOld English wæcce ‘watchfulness’, wæccende ‘remaining awake’; related to the verb wake. The sense ‘small timepiece’ probably developed by way of a sense ‘alarm device attached to a clock’.

Idioms

mind/watch your language

to be careful about what you say in order not to upset or offend somebody
- Watch your language, young man!
- The referee told the players to mind their language.

mind/watch your step

to walk carefully
to behave in a careful and sensible way
- You’d better watch your step with him if you don’t want trouble.

watch your back

to protect yourself against danger
- She'd better watch her back if she wants to hold onto the top job.

watch the clock

(disapproving) to be careful not to work longer than the required time; to think more about when your work will finish than about the work itself
- employees who are always watching the clock
see also clock-watcher

a watched pot never boils

(saying) used to say that when you are impatient for something to happen, time seems to pass very slowly

watch it

(informal) used as a warning to somebody to be careful

watch your mouth/tongue

to be careful what you say in order not to offend somebody or make them angry

watch this space

(informal) used in orders, to tell somebody to wait for more news about something to be announced
- I can't tell you any more right now, but watch this space.

watch the time

to be sure that you know what the time is, so that you finish something at the correct time, or are not late for something
- I'll have to watch the time. I need to leave early today.

watch the world go by

to relax and watch people in a public place
- We sat outside a cafe, watching the world go by.
- I love just watching the world go by.

watch

noun

/wɒtʃ/

/wɑːtʃ/

Idioms

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[countable] a type of small clock that you wear on your wrist, or (in the past) carried in your pocket
- She kept looking anxiously at her watch.
- He paced nervously, checking his watch.
- My watch is fast/slow.
- Sorry I'm late—my watch has stopped.
see also stopwatch, wristwatch
Extra Examples
- Don't forget to set your watch to local time.
- Let's synchronize our watches.
- My watch is ten years old and it's still going.
- My watch loses a minute each day.
- My watch says three o'clock.
- Quartz watches don't need winding.
- We put our watches forward eight hours before landing in Tokyo.
Topics Clothes and Fashiona1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- digital
- analogue/analog
- mechanical
- …
verb + watch
- check
- consult
- glance at
- …
watch + verb
- go
- work
- stop
- …
watch + noun
- face
- band
- strap
- …
See full entry
[singular, uncountable] the act of watching somebody/something carefully in case of possible danger or problems
- The police have mounted a watch outside the hotel.
- I'll keep watch while you go through his papers (= watch and warn you if somebody is coming).
- The government is keeping a close watch on how the situation develops.
see also neighbourhood watch
Extra Examples
- I kept a close watch on my bag as I sat on the train.
- She keeps watch over the inmates.
- The authorities maintained a careful watch over the establishment.
- They kept a vigilant watch for the enemy.
- Go in and see if you can find it in his study. I'll keep watch for you.
- Two soldiers were ordered to keep watch for enemy aircraft.
- They're in charge of issuing the tornado watches.
- We have tornado watches in effect for a lot of Florida.
- prisoners on suicide watch (= being carefully watched as they might try to kill themselves)
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- careful
- close
- vigilant
- …
verb + watch
- keep
- stand
- put
- …
watch + noun
- committee
- tower
- list
- …
preposition
- on watch
- on the watch for
phrases
- keep watch over somebody/something
- stand watch over somebody/something
See full entry
[countable, uncountable] a fixed period of time, usually while other people are asleep, during which somebody watches for any danger so that they can warn others, for example on a ship; the person or people who do this
- on watch I go on watch in an hour.
- I'm on first watch.
see also nightwatchman
Extra Examples
- Some of the crew were sleeping, while others were on watch.
- That night they posted watches.
- The garrison commander had put an extra watch on the prisoners.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- careful
- close
- vigilant
- …
verb + watch
- keep
- stand
- put
- …
watch + noun
- committee
- tower
- list
- …
preposition
- on watch
- on the watch for
phrases
- keep watch over somebody/something
- stand watch over somebody/something
See full entry

Idioms

be on the watch (for somebody/something)

to be looking carefully for somebody/something that you expect to see, especially in order to avoid possible danger
- Be on the watch for thieves.
Topics Dangerc2

keep a close eye/watch on somebody/something

to watch somebody/something carefully
- Over the next few months we will keep a close watch on sales.