watch over
To guard and protect.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Can you watch over my bag while I buy coffee?”
“The nurse promised to watch over the patient through the night and call if anything changed.”
“Standing on the cliff's edge, the old lighthouse keeper had spent forty years watching over the treacherous waters, guiding ships safely home.”
- 01
keep a close watch
to pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems.
- 02
keep watch
To guard; to watch over someone or something.
- 03
on one's watch
During the period of time when one is in a position of authority or responsibility.
- 04
set one's watch back
To ponder or experience a past time.
- 05
set one's watch by someone
To know the current time by observing a very punctual and reliable person going about their regular routine.
- 06
watch it
To be careful or cautious; to pay attention to what one is doing (usually imperative).
- 07
watch one's language
To be careful about what one says, in particular the avoidance of foul language.
- 08
watch one's mouth
To be careful about what one says, especially with regard to disrespectful or profane language.
Last updated August 10, 2026