Definition Definition

watch - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'watch' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Watch [ n.]
- An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf. Dogwatch.
- That part, usually one half, of the officers and crew, who together attend to the working of a vessel for an allotted time, usually four hours. The watches are designated as the port watch, and the starboard watch.
2 . Watch [ v. i.]
- The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night.
- One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.
- The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
- The period of the night during which a person does duty as a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.
- A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.
- To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.
- To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.
- To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.
- To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever.
- To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; -- said of a buoy.
3 . Watch [ v. t.]
- To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature.
- To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.

Meaning of 'watch' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . watch [ v]
Meaning (1):
- see or watch
Example in sentence:
  • Catch a show on Broadway;
  • see a movie;
  • This program will be seen all over the world;
  • view a show on television;
  • view an exhibition
Meaning (2):
- find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
Example in sentence:
  • Check whether the train leaves on time;
  • find out if he speaks Russian;
  • I want to see whether she speaks French;
  • See whether it works
Meaning (3):
- follow with the eyes or the mind
Example in sentence:
  • Keep an eye on the baby, please!;
  • She followed the men with the binoculars;
  • The world is watching Sarajevo
Meaning (4):
- observe with attention
Example in sentence:
  • They watched as the murderer was executed
Meaning (5):
- look attentively
Example in sentence:
  • watch a basketball game
Meaning (6):
- observe or determine by looking
Example in sentence:
  • Watch how the dog chases the cats away
Meaning (7):
- be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful
Example in sentence:
  • Watch out for pickpockets!