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v. watched, watch·ing, watch·es v.intr. 1. To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant: watching for trail markers. 2. To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation: watch for an opportunity. 3. To act as a spectator; look on: stood by the road and watched. 4. To stay awake at night while serving as a guard, sentinel, or watcher. 5. To stay alert as a devotional or religious exercise; keep vigil. v.tr. 1. To look at steadily; observe carefully or continuously: watch a parade. 2. To guard, keep surveillance on, or spy on: watched the prisoner all day; watched the house to see who came and went. 3. To observe the course of mentally; keep up on or informed about: watch the price of gold. 4. To pay close attention to or be careful about, especially with regard to propriety: watched his manners. 5. To tend or take care of (children or a flock of sheep, for example). See Synonyms at tend2. n. Phrasal Verbs: 1. The act or process of keeping awake or mentally alert, especially for the purpose of guarding. 2. a. The act of observing closely or the condition of being closely observed; surveillance. b. A period of close observation, often in order to discover something: a watch during the child's illness. 3. A person or group of people serving, especially at night, to guard or protect. 4. The post or period of duty of a guard, sentinel, or watcher. 5. Any of the periods into which the night is divided; a part of the night. 6. Nautical a. Any of the periods of time, usually four hours, into which the day aboard ship is divided and during which a part of the crew is assigned to duty. b. The members of a ship's crew on duty during a specific watch. c. A chronometer on a ship. 7. a. A period of wakefulness, especially one observed as a religious vigil. b. A funeral wake. 8. A small portable timepiece, especially one worn on the wrist or carried in the pocket. 9. A flock of nightingales. watch out To be careful or on the alert; take care. watch over Idioms: To be in charge of; superintend. watch it To be careful: had to watch it when I stepped onto the ice. watch (one's) step 1. To act or proceed with care and caution. 2. To behave as is demanded, required, or appropriate. [Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæccan, to watch, be awake; see weg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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