watch
verb/wɒtʃ/
/wɑːtʃ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they watch | /wɒtʃ/ /wɑːtʃ/ |
| he / she / it watches | /ˈwɒtʃɪz/ /ˈwɑːtʃɪz/ |
| past simple watched | /wɒtʃt/ /wɑːtʃt/ |
| past participle watched | /wɒtʃt/ /wɑːtʃt/ |
| -ing form watching | /ˈwɒtʃɪŋ/ /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to look at somebody/something for a time, paying attention to what happens
- watch somebody/something I was in the living room, watching TV.
- A large crowd watched the game on Saturday.
- to watch a film/movie/video/show
- The film is well made and fun to watch—just don't expect a classic.
- He sat on the ground and watched me with great interest.
- watch something for something He watched the house for signs of activity.
- watch (for something) He watched for signs of activity in the house.
- ‘Would you like to play?’ ‘No thanks—I'll just watch.’
- She stood and watched as the taxi drove off.
- We watched to see what would happen next.
- watch what, how, etc… Watch what I do, then you try.
- watch somebody/something doing something She watched the kids playing in the yard.
- watch somebody/something do something They watched the bus disappear into the distance.
Synonyms looklookwatch ▪ see ▪ view ▪ observeThese words all mean to turn your eyes in a particular direction.look to turn your eyes in a particular direction:- If you look carefully you can just see our house from here.
- She looked at me and smiled.
- to watch television
- Watch what I do, then you try.
- In the evening we went to see a movie.
- People came from all over the world to view her work.
- The patients were observed over a period of several months.
- to look/watch for somebody/something
- to watch/observe what/who/how…
- to look/watch/view/observe (somebody/something) with amazement/surprise/disapproval, etc.
- to watch/see/view a film/show/programme
- to watch/see a match/game/fight
- to look (at somebody/something)/watch (somebody/something)/observe somebody/something carefully/closely
Extra ExamplesTopics TV, radio and newsa1- He couldn't get in touch with her, so he would just have to watch and wait.
- He tucked into his meal as I watched enviously.
- He let me watch while he assembled the model.
- He watched with great interest how she coaxed the animals inside.
- I could see Robby watching curiously.
- I spent hours patiently watching the eagles.
- My father religiously watched the show every Friday night.
- She stood and watched them walk off down the road.
- We watched helplessly as the tide washed our towels away.
- She watched in astonishment as he smashed the machine to pieces.
- She watched the man closely to see where he would go.
- The injured player was made to watch as his team was defeated 4-0.
- They could only watch in silence as their possessions were taken away.
- They stopped to watch the procession go by.
- They watched from an upstairs window.
- We watched for any sign of change in the weather.
- the most widely watched national news bulletins in the country
- A capacity crowd watched the semi-final.
- I only let my kids watch television at the weekends.
- This initiative is being closely watched by government regulators.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- carefully
- closely
- attentively
- …
- could only
- continue to
- pause to
- …
- for
- from
- in
- …
- sit and watch
- stand and watch
- watch and wait
- …
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [transitive] to take care of somebody/something for a short time
- watch somebody/something for somebody Could you watch my bags for me while I buy a paper?
- watch something It's OK, I can watch the baby for a while.
- (British English also mind)[transitive] (informal) to be careful about something
- watch yourself Watch yourself! (= be careful, because you're in a dangerous situation)
- watch something Watch your bag—there are thieves around.
- Watch your head on the low ceiling.
- I have to watch every penny (= be careful what I spend).
- watch where, what, etc… Hey, watch where you're going!
- [transitive, intransitive] to pay attention to a situation so that you notice any changes
- watch something We're watching the situation very carefully.
- This election is being closely watched in the region.
- The food retail sector is one to watch.
- watch for something We'll watch for any developments.
- [often passive] (often in the progressive tenses) to observe somebody's activities without their knowledge, especially over a period of time
- be (being) watched He didn't know he was being watched by the authorities.
Word OriginOld English wæcce ‘watchfulness’, wæccende ‘remaining awake’; related to the verb wake. The sense ‘small timepiece’ probably developed by way of a sense ‘alarm device attached to a clock’.
Idioms
See watch in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee watch in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishmind/watch your language
- to be careful about what you say in order not to upset or offend somebody
- Watch your language, young man!
- The referee told the players to mind their language.
mind/watch your step
- to walk carefully
- to behave in a careful and sensible way
- You’d better watch your step with him if you don’t want trouble.
watch your back
- to protect yourself against danger
- She'd better watch her back if she wants to hold onto the top job.
watch the clock
- (disapproving) to be careful not to work longer than the required time; to think more about when your work will finish than about the work itself
- employees who are always watching the clock
a watched pot never boils
- (saying) used to say that when you are impatient for something to happen, time seems to pass very slowly
watch it
- (informal) used as a warning to somebody to be careful
watch your mouth/tongue
- to be careful what you say in order not to offend somebody or make them angry
watch this space
- (informal) used in orders, to tell somebody to wait for more news about something to be announced
- I can't tell you any more right now, but watch this space.
watch the time
- to be sure that you know what the time is, so that you finish something at the correct time, or are not late for something
- I'll have to watch the time. I need to leave early today.
watch the world go by
- to relax and watch people in a public place
- We sat outside a cafe, watching the world go by.
- I love just watching the world go by.
Check pronunciation:
watch