watchful

adjective

watch·​ful ˈwäch-fəl How to pronounce watchful (audio)
ˈwȯch-
1
archaic
a
: not able or accustomed to sleep or rest : wakeful
b
: causing sleeplessness
c
: spent in wakefulness : sleepless
2
: carefully observant or attentive : being on the watch
watchfully adverb
watchfulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for watchful

watchful, vigilant, wide-awake, alert mean being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity.

watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers.

wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology

alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

Examples of watchful in a Sentence

We need to be more watchful of our children. The hotel is being built under the watchful eye of its architect.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Thursday, Amazon MGM Studios, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli announced a new joint venture to house the intellectual property rights of James Bond, ceding creative control of the franchise to Amazon MGM after over 60 years under the watchful eye of the Broccoli family. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025 Maggie Nutter, a fourth-generation rancher near Sweetgrass, Montana, keeps a watchful eye out for trespassers. Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025 The messages were delivered under the watchful eye of armed men, but appeared measured and the men in apparent good health. NBC News, 15 Feb. 2025 As the opening of Speedweeks commences, fans - and teams - should keep a watchful eye on updates, given the ever-changing forecasts. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for watchful

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of watchful was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Watchful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watchful. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

watchful

adjective
watch·​ful ˈwäch-fəl How to pronounce watchful (audio)
ˈwȯch-
: continually on the lookout especially for danger
watchfully adverb
watchfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on watchful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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