watch

watch

I

watch¹ S1 W1 /wɒtʃ $ wɑːtʃ, wɒːtʃ/ verb1.  LOOK  [intransitive and transitive] to look at someone or something for a period of time, paying attention to what is happening:
    Do you mind if I watch?
    We sat and watched the sunset.
    watch carefully/closely/intently etc
    He watched helplessly as Paula fell into the icy water.
    Watch carefully. You may learn something.
    watch (somebody/something) with interest/amusement/delight etc
    Harriet watched him with interest.
    watch somebody/something do/doing something
    I watched him go, then went home.
    Ruth could not bear to watch her parents arguing.
    watch to do something
    I watched to see how he’d react.
    watch television/a film etc
    The debate was watched by 97 million viewers.
    Most parents don’t know what their kids are watching on TV.
    watch what/how/when etc
    It’s useful to watch how other pilots handle the glider.
2.  BE CAREFUL  [transitive] to act carefully in order to avoid an accident or unwanted situation
    watch (that)
    Watch he doesn’t run into the road.
    She’s a student and has to watch her budget closely.
    Watch your head on the shelf.
    watch what/how/where etc
    Silly old fool__ Why doesn’t he watch where he’s going?
    Watch what you’re doing__ It’s spilling everywhere__
    Watch yourself (=be careful) in Madrid; there are some rough areas.
    watch what you say/your tongue/your language/your mouth etc (=be careful not to hurt or offend people by what you say)
    Employees should watch what they say in personal emails.
    watch your weight/watch what you eat (=be careful not to get fat)
    He may be a former athlete, but he still has to watch his weight.
3.  PAY ATTENTION  [transitive] to pay attention to a situation that interests or worries you to see how it develops
    watch closely/carefully
    American companies are watching Japanese developments closely.
    The government will watch the progress of these schemes with interest.
4.  CARE FOR  [transitive] to stay with someone or something so that nothing bad happens to them:
    She watches the kids for us occasionally.
5.  SECRETLY  [transitive] to secretly watch a person or place:
    I feel like I’m being watched.
6. watch your step informal to be careful, especially about making someone angry:
    He soon saw he’d have to watch his step with some of these guys.
7. watch your back informal to be careful because other people may try to harm you
8. watch the clock informal to keep looking at the time because you are worried or bored:
    anxious mums watching the clock
9. watch the time to make sure you know what time it is to avoid being late
10. watch it spoken used to warn someone to be careful:
    Watch it, there’s a car.
11. watch this space informal used to tell people to pay attention in the future because things are going to develop further – used especially in newspapers
12. one to watch someone or something that people should pay attention to because they are interesting or exciting:
    In the tournament so far, Italy’s Stefania Croce looks like the one to watch.
13. watch the world go by to relax outside by just looking at the people around you:
    lingering in a pavement café, watching the world go by
14. you watch informal used to tell someone that you know what will happen:
    He’ll win this time, you watch.
⇨ watch somebody like a hawk at hawk¹
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ nouns
   ▪ watch television We watched television all evening.
   ▪ watch a programme/film/show They were watching a film on TV.
■ adverbs
   ▪ closely I watched him closely while he was giving his evidence.
   ▪ carefully She watched very carefully and did exactly as he did.
   ▪ helplessly He watched helplessly as his son was swept away by the waves.
   ▪ intently (=with a lot of attention) Her father was watching her intently as she worked.
■ phrases
   ▪ with interest/amusement etc A small crowd of people were watching them with interest.
   ▪ in horror/amazement etc He watched in horror as the flames engulfed his house.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ watch to look at someone or something for a period of time and pay attention to what is happening: They were all watching the game. | I watched him get out of his car. | We are watching carefully to see how the situation develops.
   ▪ keep an eye on somebody/something to watch someone or something carefully so that you are prepared if anything bad happens: The doctors are keeping a careful eye on her. | Can you keep an eye on my bag for me? | Keep an eye on house prices before you decide to sell.
   ▪ observe to watch someone or something carefully in order to learn more about them: A 24-hour camera is being used to observe the birds’ behaviour. | During your teacher training you will be encouraged to observe lessons.
   ▪ monitor to watch a situation carefully to see how it changes over a period of time: Class teachers are responsible for monitoring the progress of each student. | Economists are monitoring the situation carefully.
   ▪ spy on somebody to watch someone secretly in order to find out what they are doing: He hired a private detective to spy on her. | In the 1960s, government agencies were spying on everybody.
■ someone who watches something
   ▪ spectator someone who watches an event, especially a sports event: There were 4,500 spectators at the game. | a crowd of spectators
   ▪ viewer someone who watches television: Millions of television viewers listened to the President’s speech. | programmes for younger viewers
   ▪ audience the people who watch a play or performance, or the people who watch a particular television programme: The audience roared with laughter and clapped. | It attracted a television audience of seven million.
   ▪ onlooker someone who watches something happening without being involved in it, especially in the street: A man was standing on the roof, watched by a crowd of onlookers below.
   ▪ observer someone who watches and pays attention to particular situations and events, because they are interested in them, or it is their job: She was a shrewd observer of human nature. | a political observer who writes for The Independent newspaper | The United Nations has sent military observers to the Sudan.
     
watch (out) for something phrasal verb
  to pay close attention in a particular situation because you are expecting something to happen or you want to avoid something bad:
    She stepped outside to watch for the cab.
    What problems should I watch out for when buying an old house?
watch out phrasal verb informal
  used to tell someone to be careful:
    You’ll become an alcoholic if you don’t watch out.
watch over somebody phrasal verb
  to protect someone so that they are not harmed:
    There must have been an angel watching over me that day.

II

watch² S2 W3 noun
1. [countable] a small clock that you wear on your wrist or keep in your pocket:
    My watch has stopped.
    look at/glance at/consult your watch
    She glanced nervously at her watch.
    How do you keep track of time if you don’t wear a watch?
2. [singular, uncountable] when you watch someone or something carefully, or pay careful attention to them, so that you are ready to act if necessary:
    The police arrived to keep watch on the mouth of the tunnel.
    watch on/over
    He maintained a 24-hour watch over his son.
    Security forces kept a close watch on our activities.
3. keep a watch out for somebody/something (also be on the watch for somebody/something) to be looking and waiting for something that might happen or someone you might see, especially so that you can avoid danger, trouble etc:
    Be on the watch for anything suspicious.
4. [countable] a group of people whose job is to guard or protect someone or something:
    We were arrested and held until the arrival of the night watch (=people responsible for keeping the streets safe at night, especially in past times). ⇨ neighbourhood watch
5. [uncountable and countable] a period of time when it is someone’s duty to stay somewhere and look for signs of danger:
    The first watch is from now until midnight.
    on watch
    Who’s on watch tonight?
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ look at/glance at your watch I looked at my watch. It was 4.30.
   ▪ check/consult your watch He checked his watch and saw that it was only 2.15.
   ▪ a watch says ... My watch says twenty past one.
   ▪ put your watch forward (=make it show a later time) The passengers were reminded to put their watches forward three hours.
   ▪ put your watch back (=make it show an earlier time) On Saturday night, don’t forget to put your watch back an hour.
   ▪ set your watch (=make it show the correct time) I set my watch by the clock on the mantelpiece.
   ▪ wear a watch He wore a gold watch.
   ▪ a watch stops Her watch had stopped after getting wet in the sea.
■ adjectives
   ▪ sb’s watch is fast/runs fast (=it shows a later time) No, it’s only 12.15 – your watch must be fast.
   ▪ sb’s watch is slow/runs slow (=it shows an earlier time) 'He’s late.' 'Maybe his watch is running slow.'