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¹watch

verb \ˈwäch, ˈwȯch\

: to look at (someone or something) for an amount of time and pay attention to what is happening

: to give your attention to (a situation, an event, etc.)

: to care for (someone or something) for a period of time in order to make sure that nothing bad or unwanted happens

Full Definition of WATCH

intransitive verb

a : to keep vigil as a devotional exercise

b : to be awake during the night

a : to be attentive or vigilant

b : to keep guard

a : to keep someone or something under close observation

b : to observe as a spectator <the country watched as stocks fell sharply>

: to be expectant : wait <watch for the signal>

transitive verb

: to keep under guard

a : to observe closely in order to check on action or change <being watched by the police>

b : to look at : observe <sat and watched the crowd>

c : to look on at <watch television> <watch a ball game>

a : to take care of : tend

b : to be careful of <watches his diet>

: to be on the alert for : bide <watched her opportunity>

— watch it

: look out : be careful <watch it when you handle the glassware>

— watch one's step

: to proceed with extreme care : act or talk warily

— watch over

: to have charge of : superintend

See watch defined for English-language learners

See watch defined for kids

Origin of WATCH

Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæccan — more at wake

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WATCH

Synonyms: eye, follow, observe, have one's eye on

Antonyms: disregard, ignore, tune out

²watch

noun

: a device that shows what time it is and that you wear on your wrist or carry in a pocket

: the act of giving your attention to someone or something especially in order to make sure that nothing bad or unwanted happens

: the act of looking for someone or something that you expect to see : the act of regularly checking to see if someone has arrived or if something has appeared or happened

Full Definition of WATCH

a : the act of keeping awake to guard, protect, or attend

b obsolete : the state of being wakeful

c : a wake over a dead body

d : a state of alert and continuous attention

e : close observation : surveillance

f : a notice or bulletin that alerts the public to the possibility of severe weather conditions occurring in the near future <a winter storm watch>

a : any of the definite divisions of the night made by ancient peoples

b : one of the indeterminate intervals marking the passage of night —usually used in plural <the silent watches of the night>

a : lookout, watchman

b archaic : the office or function of a sentinel or guard

a : a body of soldiers or sentinels making up a guard

b : a watchman or body of watchmen formerly assigned to patrol the streets of a town at night, announce the hours, and act as police

a (1) : a portion of time during which a part of a ship's company is on duty (2) : the part of a ship's company required to be on duty during a particular watch (3) : a sailor's assigned duty period

b : a period of duty : shift

c : a term as holder especially of an overseeing or managerial office <the business grew on her watch>

: a portable timepiece designed to be worn (as on the wrist) or carried in the pocket — compare clock

See watch defined for English-language learners