watch

watch

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Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling:

• /wɒtʃ/ (Received Pronunciation, some American accents) or /wɑːtʃ/ (General American, some other accents)

• w - /w/ (as in "we")

• a - /ɒ/ (as in "got" or "hot" - for /wɒtʃ/) or /ɑː/ (as in "father" or "car" - for /wɑːtʃ/)

• tch - /tʃ/ (as in "church" or "chick")

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Word Form Variations

• Noun:

• Singular: watch

• Plural: watches

• Verb:

• Base form: watch

• Third person singular present: watches

• Present participle: watching

• Past tense: watched

• Past participle: watched

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

1. A small timepiece, typically worn on a wrist or carried in a pocket, used for telling time.

• Synonyms: timepiece, chronometer, wristwatch, pocket watch

• Antonyms: (None directly applicable as it's a specific object)

2. An act of observing or guarding; a period of observation or vigilance.

• Synonyms: vigil, lookout, surveillance, observation, guard, patrol

• Antonyms: neglect, inattention, disregard, sleep

3. A person or group of people assigned to guard or observe something.

• Synonyms: guard, sentinel, lookout, patrol, watchman

• Antonyms: intruder, trespasser, invader

Verb

1. To look at or observe attentively, typically over a period of time.

• Synonyms: observe, view, look at, see, eye, gaze at, monitor

• Antonyms: ignore, disregard, overlook, miss, neglect

2. To pay attention to; to be careful or alert about something.

• Synonyms: beware, heed, mind, look out, be cautious

• Antonyms: disregard, ignore, neglect, be reckless

3. To guard, protect, or take care of something or someone.

• Synonyms: guard, protect, mind, look after, supervise, tend

• Antonyms: abandon, neglect, leave, forsake

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Examples of Use

• Books:

• "He began to watch her, and the light went out of his face, and his movements became furtive." (John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, 1939)

• Newspapers:

• "Authorities have advised residents to watch for suspicious activity following a string of burglaries in the area." (The East African)

• Online Publications:

• "The tech giant released its latest smartwatch, featuring enhanced health tracking and a longer battery life, hoping to dominate the wearable watch market." (The Verge)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• "Have you seen the new series everyone's talking about? We definitely need to watch it tonight!" (Dialogue from a podcast, "Culture Vultures,")

• "The Night's Watch stood guard on the immense ice wall, protecting the realms of men." (HBO's Game of Thrones, televised 2011-2019)

• "Fans can watch live coverage of the athletics championships on the official streaming app." (Sports broadcast advertisement)

• General Public Discourse:

• "I need to buy a new watch; mine just stopped working."

• "Please watch my bag while I go to the restroom."

• "Just watch what happens when they announce the new policy; it's going to be chaos!"

• "The neighborhood implemented a community watch program to deter crime."

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10 Quotes Using Watch

1. "Keep an eye on the clock, but don't just watch it. Do what it does. Keep going." (Sam Levenson)

2. "I watch the news to see what's happening." (Barack Obama)

3. "Sometimes you have to step back and just watch things unfold." (Unknown, widely used in discourse)

4. "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea. And then watch them build the ship." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

5. "I could sit here and watch TV all day." (Homer Simpson, The Simpsons)

6. "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. So watch your step." (Mae West)

7. "I still watch The Price Is Right every day." (Drew Carey)

8. "Be careful who you trust. The devil was once an angel. Be careful what you watch for." (Unknown, common cautionary saying)

9. "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." (Frank Outlaw, sometimes attributed to Lao Tzu or Mahatma Gandhi)

10. "There are some things you can't learn from a textbook. You have to go out and watch." (Julia Child)

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Etymology

The word "watch" has a surprisingly layered history, reflecting both its meaning of "observing" and its meaning of a "timepiece."

Its origins trace back to the Old English word "wæccan," which was a verb meaning "to be awake," "to keep awake," or "to keep guard." This primary sense was about being vigilant, attentive, and keeping a lookout, often in a protective or supervisory role. You can see this meaning still in phrases like "night watch."

Tracing further back, "wæccan" comes from the *Proto-Germanic word "wakjan," meaning "to be awake" or "to rouse." This connects it to the idea of not sleeping and being alert.

So, the first known use of "watch" in English (in its Old English form "wæccan") was as a verb around the 9th or 10th century, with the core meaning of "to be awake and vigilant, especially to guard or observe."

The noun form of "watch" (like "a night watch" or "a watchman") developed from this verb.

Later, around the 15th century, the meaning of "watch" expanded to refer to a device for telling time. This came about because these early devices were used by watchmen (guards who stayed awake to give warnings), and they often carried such time-telling instruments. So, the name of the person's duty (the "watch") transferred to the tool they used to perform that duty (the "watch").

Therefore, "watch" started as "to be awake and guard," then extended to the act/period/person of guarding, and finally to the time-telling device used during such vigilance.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Watch

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "watch":

• Watch out! (Be careful)

• Watch your step (Be careful, or be cautious in behavior)

• Watch your back (Be careful of potential danger or betrayal)

• Watch and learn

• Keep a close watch on (To monitor carefully)

• Watch paint dry (Something extremely boring)

• Watch like a hawk (To observe very closely and attentively)

• On my watch (During my time or period of responsibility)

• Watch the clock (To be eager for time to pass, often at work)

• Watch your tongue (To be careful about what you say)

• Watch the world go by (To observe life happening without actively participating)

• Watch over (To guard or protect someone or something)

• A watched pot never boils (Things seem to take longer when you're impatiently waiting)

• Watch it (A warning to be careful or stop a specific action)

• Watch your mouth (Similar to "watch your tongue")

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of watch from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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