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   watch

   /wɒtʃ/

   verb

   • 1. look at or observe attentively over a period of time: "Lucy watched him go" Similar observeviewlook ateyegaze atstare atgape atpeer atcontemplatesurveyfeast one's eyes onwatch like a hawkkeep a weather eye oninspectscrutinizescanexaminestudytake intake stock ofglance atseenoticespotglimpsespycatch sight oflay one's eyes onperceivewitnessogleleer atmake eyes atpay attention toregardattendtake note ofmarkinformal:check outget a load ofrecceeyeballnot take one's eyes offtake a dekko attake a butcher's atliterary:beholdOpposite ignoredisregard
   • ▪ keep under careful, protective, or secret observation: "there aren't enough staff to watch him properly" Similar spy onkeep watch onkeep an eye onkeep in sightkeep track oftrackmonitorsurveyfollowkeep under observationkeep under surveillanceinformal:keep tabs onkeep a beady eye onstake outrare:surveillook aftermindtake care ofcare forsupervisesuperintendtendattend tominister tofosternurseguardsafeguardprotectinformal:keep an eye onguardstand guard overkeep guard onprotectshieldpreservedefendsafeguardscreensheltercoverpatrolpolicepicketkeep a lookout atOpposite neglect
   • ▪ observe and guard in a protective way: "I guess I can rest a while, with you here to watch over me"
   • ▪ follow closely or maintain an interest in: "the girls watched the development of this relationship with incredulity"
   • 2. exercise care, caution, or restraint about: "most women watch their diet during pregnancy" Similar be careful about/ofexercise care/caution/restraint aboutbe aware ofpay attention toconsidertake into account/considerationbear in mindkeep in mindmindattend topay heed to
   • ▪ look out or be on the alert for: "in spring and summer, watch for kingfishers"
   • ▪ be careful (used as a warning or threat): "credit card fraud is on the increase, so watch out"
   • 3. remain awake for the purpose of religious observance: archaic "she watched whole nights in the church"

   noun

   • 1. a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist: "my watch had stopped" Similar timepiecechronometersmall clocktimerwristwatchpocket watchfob watchdigital watchstopwatch
   • 2. an act or instance of carefully observing someone or something over a period of time: "the security forces have been keeping a close watch on our activities" Similar guardvigillookoutan eyeobservanceobservationsurveillancevigilanceviewnotice
   • ▪ a period during which a person is stationed to look out for danger or trouble, typically at night: "Murray took the last watch before dawn"
   • ▪ a fixed period of duty on a ship, usually lasting four hours: "sea air, lots of exercise, and four-hour watches give everyone a healthy appetite" Similar shiftstintspellstretchturn
   • ▪ the officers and crew on duty during a watch.
   • ▪ a shift worked by firefighters or police officers: "the men of Red Watch at Kingsland Fire Station" Similar shiftstintspellstretchturn
   • ▪ a watchman or group of watchmen who patrolled and guarded the streets of a town before the introduction of the police force: historical "the woman, with a piercing shriek, called the watch"
   • 3. a film or programme considered in terms of its appeal to the public: informal "this movie's an engrossing watch"
   • 4. a flock of nightingales: rare "a watch of nightingales began flying south"

   Word Origin Old Englishwæcce ‘watchfulness’, wæccende ‘remaining awake’; related to wake1. The sense ‘small timepiece’ probably developed by way of a sense ‘alarm device attached to a clock’.

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • W

     4

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • C

     3

   • H

     4

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