watch [1] (watches 3rd person present) (watching present participle) (watched past tense & past participle ) (LOOKING AND PAYING ATTENTION)
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1 verb If you watch someone or something, you look at them, usually for a period of time, and pay attention to what is happening.
The man was standing in his doorway watching him... V n
He watched the barman prepare the beer he had ordered... V n inf
Chris watched him sipping his brandy... V n -ing
I watched as Amy ate a few nuts. V
2 verb If you watch something on television or an event such as a sports match, you spend time looking at it, especially when you see it from the beginning to the end.
I'd stayed up late to watch the film... V n
They spent a great deal of time watching television. V n
3 verb If you watch a situation or event, you pay attention to it or you are aware of it, but you do not influence it.
Human rights groups have been closely watching the case... V n
Annoyed commuters could only watch as the departure time ticked by. V
4 verb If you watch people, especially children or animals, you are responsible for them, and make sure that they are not in danger.
Parents can't be expected to watch their children 24 hours a day. V n
5 verb If you watch someone, you follow them secretly or spy on them.
Ella was scared that someone was watching her... V n
6 verb If you tell someone to watch a particular person or thing, you are warning them to be careful that the person or thing does not get out of control or do something unpleasant.
You really ought to watch these quiet types... V n
If you're watching the calories, don't have mayonnaise. V n
7 n-count A watch is a period of carefully looking and listening, often while other people are asleep and often as a military duty, so that you can warn them of danger or an attack.
I had the first watch that May evening.
8 If someone keeps watch, they look and listen all the time, while other people are asleep or doing something else, so that they can warn them of danger or an attack.
keep watch phrase V inflects
Jose, as usual, had climbed a tree to keep watch.
9 If you keep watchon events or a situation, you pay attention to what is happening, so that you can take action at the right moment.
keep watch phrase V inflects, usu PHR on n
US officials have been keeping close watch on the situation.
10 You say `watch it' in order to warn someone to be careful, especially when you want to threaten them about what will happen if they are not careful.
watch it phrase
`Now watch it, Patsy,' the Sergeant told her.
11 If someone is on watch, they have the job of carefully looking and listening, often while other people are asleep and often as a military duty, so that they can warn them of danger or an attack.
on watch phrase v-link PHR, PHR after v
Apart from two men on watch in the engine-room, everyone was asleep.
12 If you are on the watchfor something, you are expecting it to happen and you therefore pay attention to events so that you will notice it when it does happen.
on the watch phrase v-link PHR, oft PHR for n
(=on the lookout)
Environmentalists will be on the watch for damage to wildlife.
13 If someone is being kept under watch, they are being guarded or observed all the time.
under watch phrase PHR after v, v-link PHR
14 You say to someone `you watch' or `just watch' when you are predicting that something will happen, and you are very confident that it will happen as you say.
just/you watch phrase
You watch. Things will get worse before they get better.
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to watch your step
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step watch for , watch out for phrasal verb If you watch for something or watch out for it, you pay attention so that you notice it, either because you do not want to miss it or because you want to avoid it.
(=look out for)
We'll be watching for any developments... V P n
He called out to them to watch out for the unexploded mine. V P P n watch out phrasal verb If you tell someone to watch out, you are warning them to be careful, because something unpleasant might happen to them or they might get into difficulties.
(=look out)
You have to watch out because there are land mines all over the place... V P watch out for
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watch for watch over phrasal verb If you watch over someone or something, you pay attention to them to make sure that nothing bad happens to them.
(=watch )
The guards were originally hired to watch over the houses as they were being built. V P n
