Watch

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /wÉ’tʃ/
• GenAm IPA: /wɑːtʃ/
• Rhymes: -É’tʃ

As a noun, from Middle English wacche, from Old English wæċċe. See below for verb form.

Full definition of watch

Noun

1. A portable or wearable timepiece.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 2, Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke....A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.
2. More people today carry a watch on their wrists than in their pockets.
3. The act of guarding and observing someone or something.
• Miltonshepherds keeping watch by night
• AddisonAll the long night their mournful watch they keep.
4. A particular time period when guarding is kept.The second watch of the night began at midnight.
• ShakespeareI did stand my watch upon the hill.
• MiltonMight we but hear ...
  Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock
  Count the night watches to his feathery dames.
5. A person or group of people who guard.The watch stopped the travelers at the city gates.
• Bible, Matthew xxvii. 65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
6. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
• ShakespeareHe upbraids Iago, that he made him
  Brave me upon the watch.
7. (nautical) A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.
8. (nautical) A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length; the officers and crew who tend the working of a vessel during the same watch. (FM 55–501).
9. The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.
• 2004, Charles P. Nemeth, Criminal lawA quick watch of Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange sends this reality home fast. Amoral, vacuous, cold-blooded, unsympathetic, and chillingly evil describe only parts of the story.

Derived terms

As a verb, from Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæċċan (from the same root as its synonym and doublet wacian, which lead to wake in modern English), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wakōną, *wakjaną. Cognate with West Frisian weitsje ("to wake, watch"), Dutch waken ("to wake, watch"), German wachen ("to wake, watch").

Verb

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To be awake.
• 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X:So on the morne Sir Trystram, Sir Gareth and Sir Dynadan arose early and went unto Sir Palomydes chambir, and there they founde hym faste aslepe, for he had all nyght wacched ....
2. (transitive) To look at, see, or view for a period of time.
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 10, It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.
3. Watching the clock will not make time go faster.
   I'm tired of watching TV.
4. (transitive) To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.
   Watch this!
   Put a little baking soda in some vinegar and watch what happens.
5. (transitive) To mind, attend, or guard.
   Please watch my suitcase for a minute.
   He has to watch the kids that afternoon.
6. (transitive) To be wary or cautious of.
   You should watch that guy. He has a reputation for lying.
7. (transitive) To attend to dangers to or regarding.
   Watch your head.; Watch your step.
   Watch yourself when you talk to him.
   Watch what you say.
8. (intransitive) To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil.
9. (intransitive) To be vigilant or on one's guard.
   For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away.
10. (intransitive) To act as a lookout.
11. (nautical, of a buoy) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.

Usage notes

When used transitively to mean look at something, there is an implication that the direct object is something which is capable of changing.

Antonyms

• ignore

Derived terms