Meaning & use
watch
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To look at something carefully for a period of time, especially something that moves or changes.
Grammar: Takes an object, or stands alone: watch a film; watch closely.
Patterns
- watch something
- watch someone do something
- watch for something
We watched the sunset from the roof.
Watch how she folds the paper.
The children watched in silence.
verbtransitive
To pay attention so you can avoid a problem or take care of something.
Grammar: Often in orders: watch the step, watch your language.
Patterns
- watch out for something
- watch your step
Watch your head on the low beam.
Watch the pot so the milk doesn't boil over.
Watch what you say in front of the customers.
verbtransitiveinformal
To look after someone or something for a short time.
Grammar: Informal in American English: watch my bag.
Patterns
- watch someone's bag
- watch the kids
Could you watch my bag while I buy a ticket?
She watches the neighbor's dog on weekends.
I'll watch the baby while you rest.
nouncountable
A small clock worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket.
Grammar: Countable: a watch, wristwatch.
Patterns
- wear a watch
- check your watch
He glanced at his watch and hurried off.
My watch is five minutes fast.
She received a gold watch when she retired.
nouncountable
A period of guarding or keeping alert, or the people doing it.
Grammar: Often in phrases such as night watch or on watch.
Patterns
- on watch
- keep watch
The sailors took turns on the night watch.
He kept watch while the others slept.
Neighborhood watch groups report suspicious activity.
Word forms
| third person singular | watches |
|---|---|
| past tense | watched |
| past participle | watched |
| -ing form | watching |
| plural noun | watches |
Common combinations
- watch television
- We watch television after dinner.
- watch out for
- Watch out for ice on the road.
- keep watch
- A guard kept watch at the gate.
- watch closely
- Watch closely and you'll see the trick.
- watch your step
- Watch your step on the wet stairs.
- wear a watch
- He never wears a watch.
Synonyms and how they differ
- observe
- Observe is more formal and suggests careful study to learn something.
- look at
- Look at can be a brief glance, while watch needs time and attention.
- monitor
- Monitor means to check something regularly, often with instruments.
- guard
- Guard stresses protecting something, which watch alone does not.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: watch or see? watch or look?
watch vs see
See describes noticing something with your eyes, often without trying. Watch means to look deliberately over time.
watch vs look
Look means to direct your eyes toward something, usually with at, whereas watch requires continuing attention.
Practice
I'm not going to just ______ the match on my phone; I'll go and see it live.
Choose one answer.
Watch fits a match viewed over a period. 'See' needs to be followed by something other than a screen here, 'look' needs 'at', and 'glance' is brief.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “watch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.