What does "watch" mean?

1. (to look at for a time) to look at someone or something for a period of time, especially something that moves. 2. (to guard or look after) to take care of something or someone for a short time to make sure they are safe. 3. (to be careful) to be careful about something or pay attention to a danger. 4. (a timepiece) a small clock that you wear on your wrist or carry in your pocket. 5. (guard duty) a period of time when someone stays awake to guard a place, especially on a ship.

watch — meaning, definition & examples

Q: Is it correct to say "I watched to the television for an hour."?

No — say "I watched television for an hour.". Unlike 'look', the verb 'watch' does not take the preposition 'to' before its object.

Word

01to look at for a time

A1 · Beginner

v. to look at someone or something for a period of time, especially something that moves.

v. to look at or observe attentively over a period of time. Ambitransitive — can be used with or without a direct object.

“We sat on the bench and watched the people walking through the park.”

“The researchers watched the birds for several hours, documenting every interaction between the nesting pairs and their offspring.”

Pitfall

I watched to the television for an hour.

I watched television for an hour.

Unlike 'look', the verb 'watch' does not take the preposition 'to' before its object.

Synonyms

view observe look at

Antonyms

ignore neglect

02to guard or look after

A2 · Elementary

v. to take care of something or someone for a short time to make sure they are safe.

v. to keep under attentive view or to maintain guard over someone or something.

“Could you watch my bag for a minute while I go to the bathroom?”

“The shepherd stayed awake all night to watch the flock, fearing that wolves might approach from the nearby forest.”

Synonyms

guard mind tend

03to be careful

B1 · Intermediate

v. to be careful about something or pay attention to a danger.

v. to exercise caution or be vigilant regarding a potential risk or specific detail.

“You should watch your step on these icy stairs.”

“Investors are advised to watch the market closely, as sudden policy changes could affect stock prices overnight.”

Synonyms

be carefulmind

04a timepiece

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. a small clock that you wear on your wrist or carry in your pocket.

n. a portable timepiece designed to be worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket.

“He looked at his watch and realised he was ten minutes late for the meeting.”

“She received a gold watch as a retirement gift, engraved with her years of service to the company.”

Synonyms

timepiecewristwatch

05guard duty

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Nautical Technical

n. a period of time when someone stays awake to guard a place, especially on a ship.

n. a period of duty for guarding or observing, particularly one of the shifts into which the day is divided on a ship.

“The sailor finished his watch at midnight and went to his cabin to sleep.”

“During the storm, the captain ordered extra crew members to remain on watch to ensure the vessel stayed on course.”

Usage

Often used with 'on' or 'off', as in 'on watch'.

Synonyms

shift vigil guard

watch vs look at

Look at is the act of directing your eyes toward a stationary target; watch is the act of observing something in motion or progress over time.

RememberLook at a photo; watch a film.

watch vs look vs see

Look is the intentional direction of the eyes, see is the automatic perception of an image, and watch is the sustained observation of something in motion.

RememberSee is a reflex; look is a choice; watch is a movie.

watch vs look

Look is the act of directing your eyes toward something, while watch is the act of paying attention to something in motion over time.

RememberLook is a glance; watch is a movie.

watch vs see

See is the passive reception of light; watch is the active focus on a moving target.

RememberSee is a sense; watch is a choice.