vigilant
- 01 C1 Advanced
staying very careful and alert to notice any signs of danger or trouble.
maintaining careful watch for possible danger or difficulties; alert and circumspect.
Simple“The security guards remained vigilant throughout the night to keep the building safe.”
In context“Public health officials urged the population to remain vigilant for symptoms as the new strain of the virus began to spread across the region.”
UsageOften used in contexts involving security, health monitoring, or public safety.
Teacher's tipWhile the metadata suggests this word is archaic, it is actually very common in modern formal English, especially in news reports about safety or security.
“Health services will remain vigilant in the coming days, although there is a sense of calm, as citizens have acted responsibly and prudently.”
“Indonesian authorities have urged people to avoid setting fires and to remain vigilant because the peak of the fire season is usually in September and October.”
From French vigilant or its source, Latin vigilans, present participle of vigilare (“stay awake”), from vigil (“awake”). Doublet of vigilante, from Spanish. Displaced Old English wacor.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.