Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small timepiece worn on the wrist or carried: A portable device that shows the time.
   • The act of observing attentively: A purposeful act of looking at something carefully or for a period of time.
   • A period of duty for a guard or sentinel: A specific shift during which someone is responsible for guarding or observing.
   • A person or group assigned to guard duty: Someone employed to keep a lookout.
   • A historical or religious period of staying awake: The rite of remaining awake, especially for devotional purposes.

2. Verb:

   • To look at attentively; observe: To direct one's gaze at something, often for a period of time.
   • To keep under careful or protective observation: To guard, tend, or look after someone or something.
   • To be alertly on the lookout; be vigilant: To pay careful attention in order to see, notice, or anticipate something.
   • To follow closely with the eyes or mind: To observe the course or development of events or a situation.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • He glanced at his watch to check the time.
  • The security watch reported nothing unusual during the night.
  • The sailor stood his watch from midnight until 4 a.m.

• Verb:

  • Please watch the children while I'm gone.
  • We sat and watched the sunset.
  • The detective watched the suspect's house for days.

Advanced Usage

• "To keep a watch on/over": To observe or guard something carefully.

  • The nurse kept a close watch on the patient's vital signs.

• "To be on the watch (for)": To be alert and looking for something expected or feared.

  • Investors are on the watch for signs of inflation.

• "Watch and wait": A strategy of careful observation before taking action.

  • For this medical condition, the doctor recommended a watch-and-wait approach.

Variants and Related Words

• Watchful (adj): Being observant and alert.

  • The guard remained watchful throughout the night.

• Watchman (n): A person employed to look after an empty building or area at night.

• Stopwatch (n): A special watch used for timing events precisely.

Synonyms

• Observe (v): To watch carefully, especially to learn something.
• Guard (v): To keep safe from harm or danger.
• Timepiece (n): A device for measuring time (a more formal term for a clock or watch).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Watch out: To be careful or vigilant about a potential danger.

  • Watch out! There's a car coming!

• Watch over: To protect, guard, or take care of someone or something.

  • She felt her grandmother was watching over her.

• Watch for: To look attentively or wait expectantly for something to appear or happen.

  • We need to watch for any changes in the weather.

Related Idioms

• A watched pot never boils: Time seems to pass very slowly when you are waiting anxiously for something to happen.
• Watch your step: Be careful about what you do or say, especially to avoid trouble or danger.
  • You'd better watch your step when talking to the boss today.
• Watch the clock: To keep looking at the time, often because you are bored or eager to finish.
  • He spent the afternoon watching the clock, waiting for the workday to end.

Noun

1. the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)
2. a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
3. the period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty
4. a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
5. a period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty
6. a small portable timepiece

Verb

1. find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
   • I want to see whether she speaks French
   • See whether it works
   • find out if he speaks Russian
   • Check whether the train leaves on time
2. observe or determine by looking
   • Watch how the dog chases the cats away
3. be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful
   • Watch out for pickpockets!
4. observe with attention
   • They watched as the murderer was executed
5. see or watch
   • view a show on television
   • This program will be seen all over the world
   • view an exhibition
   • Catch a show on Broadway
   • see a movie
6. follow with the eyes or the mind
   • Keep an eye on the baby, please!
   • The world is watching Sarajevo
   • She followed the men with the binoculars
7. look attentively
   • watch a basketball game