watch

[woch] /wɒtʃ/
verb (used without object)
1.
to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens:
to watch while an experiment is performed.
2.
to look or wait attentively and expectantly (usually followed by for):
to watch for a signal; to watch for an opportunity.
3.
to be careful or cautious:
Watch when you cross the street.
4.
to keep awake, especially for a purpose; remain vigilant, as for protection or safekeeping:
to watch with a sick person.
5.
to keep vigil, as for devotional purposes.
6.
to keep guard:
She was assigned to watch at the door.
verb (used with object)
7.
to keep under attentive view or observation, as in order to see or learn something; view attentively or with interest:
to watch a play; to watch a football game.
8.
to contemplate or regard mentally:
to watch his progress.
9.
to look or wait attentively and expectantly for:
to watch one's opportunity.
10.
to guard, tend, or oversee, especially for protection or safekeeping:
to watch the baby.
noun
11.
close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something:
Their watch for the birds was unrewarding.
12.
vigilant guard, as for protection or restraint:
to keep watch for prowlers.
13.
a keeping awake for some special purpose:
a watch beside a sickbed.
14.
a period of time for watching or keeping guard:
to stand the first watch.
15.
a small, portable timepiece, as a wrist watch or pocket watch.
16.
a chronometer.
17.
Nautical.
  1. a period of time, usually four hours, during which one part of a ship's crew is on duty, taking turns with another part.
  2. the officers and crew who attend to the working of a ship for an allotted period of time.
18.
one of the periods, usually three or four, into which the night was divided in ancient times, as by the Greeks or Hebrews:
the fourth watch of the night.
19.
a person or group that watches, as a lookout, guard, or sentinel:
A watch was posted at sunset.
20.
Also called storm watch. Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that dangerous weather conditions are a possibility and that vigilance and precautionary preparations are advised:
hurricane watch, tornado watch.
Compare advisory (def 5), warning (def 3).
21.
a flock of nightingales.
Verb phrases
22.
watch out, to be on one's guard; be cautious:
Watch out for cars when you cross the road.
23.
watch over, to guard for protection or safekeeping:
She watched over us like a mother hen over her brood.
Idioms
24.
on the watch, vigilant; alert:
The hunter was on the watch for game.
25.
watch oneself,
  1. to be cautious.
  2. to practice discretion or self-restraint.
Origin
before 900; 1580-90 for def 15; (v.) Middle English wacchen, Old English wæccan, doublet of wacian to be awake (see wake1); (noun) Middle English wacche, Old English wæcce, derivative of wæccan
Related forms
unwatched, adjective
unwatching, adjective
well-watched, adjective
Synonyms
1. Watch, look, see imply being aware of things around one by perceiving them through the eyes. To watch is to be a spectator, to look on or observe, or to fix the attention upon during passage of time: to watch while a procession passes. To look is to direct the gaze with the intention of seeing, to use the eyesight with attention: to look for violets in the spring; to look at articles displayed for sale. To see is to perceive with the eyes, to obtain a visual impression, with or without fixing the attention: animals able to see in the dark. 9. await. 10. protect. 11. inspection, attention. 12. vigil.
Examples from the web for watches
  • They are to shift the watches each night, so that the same watch need not be on deck at the same hours.
  • Might even help out those of us who can't wear watches or use electronics because our electrical systems are out of whack.
  • Smart watches can be useful in a range of situations.
  • New software watches users to figure out what products they might buy.
  • Behind them, a third officer watches for any signs of danger.
  • But those watches and flashlights aren't highly efficient at generating power.
  • He intently watches every ritual, listens to every song.
  • It contains artifacts from the day, including stopped watches and bits of clothing and hair.
  • The swimmer lifts his towel to gain time, wondering about the strange, expectant trio that watches him.
  • In another case, the two-year-old watches as somebody carefully works on it.
British Dictionary definitions for watches

watch

/wɒtʃ/
verb
1.
to look at or observe closely or attentively
2.
(intransitive) foll by for. to wait attentively or expectantly
3.
to guard or tend (something) closely or carefully
4.
(intransitive) to keep vigil
5.
(transitive) to maintain an interest in: to watch the progress of a child at school
6.
watch it!, be careful! look out!
noun
7.
  1. a small portable timepiece, usually worn strapped to the wrist (a wristwatch) or in a waistcoat pocket
  2. (as modifier): a watch spring
8.
the act or an instance of watching
9.
a period of vigil, esp during the night
10.
(formerly) one of a set of periods of any of various lengths into which the night was divided
11.
(nautical)
  1. any of the usually four-hour periods beginning at midnight and again at noon during which part of a ship's crew are on duty
  2. those officers and crew on duty during a specified watch
12.
the period during which a guard is on duty
13.
(formerly) a watchman or band of watchmen
14.
on the watch, on the lookout; alert
See also watch out
Word Origin
Old English wæccan (vb), wæcce (n); related to wake1
Word Origin and History for watches

watch

v.

Old English wæccan "keep watch, be awake," from Proto-Germanic *wakojan; essentially the same word as Old English wacian "be or remain awake" (see wake (v.)); perhaps a Northumbrian form. Meaning "be vigilant" is from c.1200. That of "to guard (someone or some place), stand guard" is late 14c. Sense of "to observe, keep under observance" is mid-15c. Related: Watched; watching.

n.

Old English wæcce "a watching," from wæccan (see watch (v.)). Sense of "sentinel" is recorded from c.1300; that of "person or group officially patroling a town (especially at night) to keep order, etc." is first recorded 1530s. Meaning "period of time in which a division of a ship's crew remains on deck" is from 1580s. Sense of "period into which a night was divided in ancient times" translates Latin vigilia, Greek phylake, Hebrew ashmoreth.

The Hebrews divided the night into three watches, the Greeks usually into four (sometimes five), the Romans (followed by the Jews in New Testament times) into four. [OED]
The meaning "small timepiece" is from 1580s, developing from that of "a clock to wake up sleepers" (mid-15c.).

Slang definitions & phrases for watches

watch

Related Terms

graveyard watch, on someone's watch


watches in the Bible

the periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to the duties of watchmen who were appointed to give notice of the approach of an enemy (2 Sam. 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20; Isa. 21:5-9). They were sometimes placed for this purpose on watch-towers (2 Kings 17:9; 18:8). Ministers or teachers are also spoken of under this title (Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 33:2-9; Heb. 13:17). The watches of the night were originally three in number, (1) "the beginning of the watches" (Lam. 2:19); (2) "the middle watch" (Judg. 7:19); and (3) "the morning watch" (Ex. 14:24; 1 Sam. 11:11), which extended from two o'clock to sunrise. But in the New Testament we read of four watches, a division probably introduced by the Romans (Matt. 14:25; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38). (See DAY.)

Idioms and Phrases with watches

watch

also see: