/ wɒtʃ; NAmE wɑːtʃ; wɔːtʃ/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to look at sb/sth for a time, paying attention to what happens :
[ vn ]
to watch television / a football game
[ vn , v ]
He watched the house for signs of activity.
He watched for signs of activity in the house.
[ v ]
'Would you like to play?' 'No thanks—I'll just watch.'
We watched to see what would happen next.
[ v wh- ]
Watch what I do, then you try.
[ vn -ing ]
She watched the kids playing in the yard.
[ vn inf ]
They watched the bus disappear into the distance.
➡ note at look
2.
[ vn ] to take care of sb/sth for a short time :
Could you watch my bags for me while I buy a paper?
3.
( BrE also mind ) ( informal ) to be careful about sth :
[ vn ]
Watch yourself (= be careful, because you're in a dangerous situation) !
Watch your bag—there are thieves around.
I have to watch every penny (= be careful what I spend) .
Watch your head on the low ceiling.
[ v wh- ]
Hey, watch where you're going!
•
IDIOMS
- watch the clock
- a watched pot never boils
- watch it
- watch your mouth / tongue
- watch the time
- watch this space
- watch the world go by
—more at language , step noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- watch for sb/sth
- watch out
- watch out for sb/sth
- watch over sb/sth
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a type of small clock that you wear on your wrist, or (in the past) carried in your pocket :
She kept looking anxiously at her watch.
My watch is fast / slow.
—picture at jewellery
—see also stopwatch , wristwatch
2.
[ sing. , U ] the act of watching sb/sth carefully in case of possible danger or problems :
The police have mounted a watch outside the hotel.
I'll keep watch while you go through his papers (= watch and warn you if somebody is coming) .
The government is keeping a close watch on how the situation develops.
—see also neighbourhood watch
3.
[ C , U ] a fixed period of time, usually while other people are asleep, during which sb watches for any danger so that they can warn others, for example on a ship; the person or people who do this :
I'm on first watch .
I go on watch in an hour.
—see also nightwatchman
•
IDIOMS
- be on the watch (for sb/sth)
—more at close (II) adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wæcce watchfulness , wæccende remaining awake ; related to the verb wake . The sense small timepiece probably developed by way of a sense alarm device attached to a clock .