1. Look attentively
   "watch a basketball game"
    
2. See and monitor someone or something
   "The world is watching Sarajevo";
   - observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye on
    
3. Look at and follow all (or part of) something being shown or performed
   "watch a show on television";
   - view, see, catch, take in
    
4. Observe without intervening
   "They watched as the murderer was executed";
   - look on
    
5. Be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful
   "Watch out for pickpockets!";
   - look out, watch out
    
6. Observe or determine by looking
   "Watch how the dog chases the cats away"
    
7. Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
   "Watch and see what happens with the experiment";
   - determine, check, find out, see, ascertain, learn

1. A small portable timepiece
   "She glanced at her watch to check the time";
   - ticker [informal]
    
2. A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
   "The night watch kept the castle secure";
   - vigil
    
3. A period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty
   "The sailor was assigned to the midnight watch"
    
4. The period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty
   "The security guard's watch lasted from 10 PM to 6 AM"
    
5. A person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
   "The watch alerted the others when he saw smoke";
   - lookout, sentinel, sentry, spotter, scout
    
6. (religion) the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)
   "They kept a night watch in prayer before the holy day";
   - vigil

Derived forms: watched, watches, watching

See also: look

Type of: act, check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, duty period, go over, horologe [archaic], look, look into, mention, move, note, observe, period, period of time, religious rite, remark, rite, security guard, shift, surveillance, sus [Brit, informal], suss [Brit, informal], suss out [Brit, informal], time period, time span, timekeeper, timepiece, watcher, work shift

Encyclopedia: Watch, Kentucky