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Watch Very Common

Watch has 15 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

a small portable timepiece

"He checked his wrist to see if it was time for lunch, glancing at the silver watch he'd worn since graduation."

2

a period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty

"The captain assigned me to an afternoon watch so he could rest before the storm hit."

3

a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe

"The security team kept a close watch on the perimeter to ensure no intruders slipped through during the night shift."

4

the period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty

"The night watch ended just as the first rays of dawn appeared over the horizon."

5

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

"The security guard stood by the front door as a watch, waiting for the arriving dignitary."

6

the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)

"The entire congregation gathered in the dimly lit hall to keep watch through the night before the feast."

7

A portable or wearable timepiece.

"She adjusted her watch to make sure she wouldn't be late for the meeting."

In plain English: A watch is a small device you wear on your wrist to tell time.

"I left my watch on the table by mistake."

Verb
1

look attentively

"watch a basketball game"

2

follow with the eyes or the mind

"Keep an eye on the baby, please!"

"The world is watching Sarajevo"

"She followed the men with the binoculars"

3

see or watch

"view a show on television"

"This program will be seen all over the world"

"view an exhibition"

"Catch a show on Broadway"

"see a movie"

4

observe with attention

"They watched as the murderer was executed"

5

be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful

"Watch out for pickpockets!"

6

observe or determine by looking

"Watch how the dog chases the cats away"

7

find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort

"I want to see whether she speaks French"

"See whether it works"

"find out if he speaks Russian"

"Check whether the train leaves on time"

8

To look at, see, or view for a period of time.

"We spent the whole afternoon watching the clouds drift across the sky."

In plain English: To watch means to look at something carefully for a period of time.

"She likes to watch television in the evening."

Usage: Use "watch" when observing something that moves or changes over time, such as sports events or movies. Do not use it to describe simply looking at an object without motion; instead, choose the verb "look at."

Example Sentences
"I left my watch on the table by mistake." noun
"She likes to watch television in the evening." verb
"I will watch the news while having dinner tonight." verb
"Please watch your step on the wet floor ahead." verb
"We sat by the window to watch the rain fall all afternoon." verb
Related Terms
time wrist clock observe timepiece look on wrist device keep watch hands wrist clock jewelry telling telling time small see small clock arm timekeeper time teller
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
timepiece shift surveillance time period watchman rite check watch
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
analog watch digital watch hunter pendulum watch pocket watch stem-winder wristwatch dogwatch graveyard watch listening watch spying wake agrypnia witness rubberneck watch observe keep tabs on guard invigilate visualize spectate preview sit by beware keep one's eyes peeled look after test

Origin

The word watch entered English as a noun during the Middle English period, evolving directly from the Old English term wæċċe. Its original meaning remained consistent with its current use to denote a period of keeping guard or observation.

Rhyming Words
tch atch itch etch sitch hutch cwtch ketch letch nitch ritch gatch hatch satch vetch pitch titch tatch match aitch
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