Watch (Noun)
Meaning 1
A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The police put a watch on the suspect's house to gather evidence of his involvement in the crime.
- A team of researchers was on watch to study the rare nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.
- The night watch officer noticed suspicious activity around the warehouse and immediately alerted the security team.
- A group of volunteers took turns keeping watch for forest fires in the dry summer months.
- The lifeguard was on watch, scanning the crowded beach for any signs of distress or struggling swimmers.
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Meaning 2
The period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty.
Classification
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations.
Examples
- The night watch was always the most difficult for the guards to stay awake.
- She had just finished her morning watch and was looking forward to a break.
- The captain assigned the new recruit to the afternoon watch.
- During his watch, the officer noticed suspicious activity near the perimeter fence.
- The soldiers were divided into three watches to ensure the fort was always guarded.
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
A period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty.
Classification
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations.
Examples
- The crew was divided into three watches, each lasting eight hours, to ensure the ship was always fully manned.
- During the four-hour watch, the sailors were responsible for monitoring the ship's navigation systems.
- The captain assigned the most experienced sailors to the night watch, as it was the most challenging time to navigate.
- The crew's morale was boosted when they were given a two-hour watch instead of the usual four hours.
- The officer in charge of the watch was responsible for making any necessary decisions during their time on duty.
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Meaning 4
A person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The night watch stood guard at the city gate, waiting for any signs of enemy movement.
- A lone watch sat atop the hill, scanning the horizon for the approaching storm.
- The coast watch had been warned of a possible pirate attack and was on high alert.
- A fire watch was stationed on the roof of the building to monitor for any sparks.
- The harbor watch waited anxiously for the ship to return from its long voyage.
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Meaning 5
The rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival).
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The faithful spent the entire night in watch, praying and meditating in preparation for Easter Sunday.
- In many churches, the Good Friday watch is an annual tradition that attracts hundreds of worshipers.
- During the Christmas Eve watch, the congregation sang hymns and reflected on the true meaning of the holiday.
- The midnight watch on the eve of Ramadan was a special time for Muslims to connect with their faith.
- In some monasteries, the monks keep a perpetual watch, with different members of the community taking turns praying throughout the night.
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Meaning 6
A small portable timepiece.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- She took her grandmother's antique watch as a family heirloom to keep her memories alive.
- The old man strapped his silver watch around his wrist and looked at it fondly.
- She placed the beautiful watch in the glass case at the store to be displayed.
- I think it's time for you to have your first watch as a birthday gift from us.
- His pocket watch has been in his family for generations, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.