verb
    
    watches; watched; watching
    
    to look at (someone or something) for an amount of time and pay attention to what is happening [+ obj]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to give your attention to (a situation, an event, etc.) [+ obj]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to care for (someone or something) for a period of time in order to make sure that nothing bad or unwanted happens
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] to try to control (something)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to be careful about (something) - usually used in commands
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] :to make sure that something bad or unwanted does not happen
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    a watched pot never boils
    
    
    
    watch for
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    watch for (someone or something) :to look for (someone or something that you expect to see)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    watch for (something) :to look for (something that you want to get or use)
    
    
    
    watch it
    
    informal - used to tell someone to be careful
    
    
    
    watch out
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    to be aware of something dangerous
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    watch over
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    watch over (someone or something) :to take care of (someone or something)
    
    
    
    
    
    watch (someone or something) like a hawk
    
    
    
    watch someone's back
    
    
    
    watch your back
    
    
    
    watch your p's and q's
    
    
    
    watch your step
    
    
    
    you watch
    
    informal - used to tell someone that you think something will probably happen
    
    
    
    noun
    
    plural watches
    
    [count] :a device that shows what time it is and that you wear on your wrist or carry in a pocket
    
    
    
    
    
    the act of giving your attention to someone or something especially in order to make sure that nothing bad or unwanted happens [singular]
    
    usually + on or over
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [singular] :the act of looking for someone or something that you expect to see :the act of regularly checking to see if someone has arrived or if something has appeared or happened
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    a period of time when a person or group is responsible for guarding or protecting someone or something [count]
    
    usually singular
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] :a group of people who guard or protect someone or something for a period of time - usually singular
    
    
    
    [count] :the period of time during which someone is in charge of something - usually singular
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] US :a quick announcement from an official source which tells people that severe weather conditions could occur very soon - usually singular