watchful

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
Español
Spanish
Français
French
Deutsch
German
Português
Portuguese
Русский
Russian
/ˈwɒtʃfəl/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
Carefully attentive and ready to notice danger, change, or a problem.

Examples

  • He gave the stranger a calm but watchful look.
  • Under her watchful eye, the project stayed on schedule.
  • A watchful guard stood by the gate.
  • The committee remained watchful for signs of fraud.
  • Parents should be watchful near deep water.

Similar words

heedful
careful
vigilant
wary
observant
alert
attentive
mindful

Meanings

Alert and attentive

adjective
everyday
neutral
Carefully paying attention to what is happening, especially so that danger, change, or a problem is noticed quickly.

Examples

  • The nurse kept a watchful eye on the patient.
  • A watchful guard stood by the gate.
  • The committee remained watchful for signs of fraud.
  • Parents should be watchful near deep water.
  • He gave the stranger a calm but watchful look.
  • Under her watchful eye, the project stayed on schedule.

Similar words

Etymology

Formed from watch plus the adjective suffix -ful, meaning full of or characterized by. It has been used since the fifteenth century, first also with older senses connected to wakefulness, though the modern everyday sense is careful attention.

FAQ

What does watchful mean?

Watchful means alert, attentive, and ready to notice danger, change, or a problem.

Is wachful a correct spelling?

No. The correct spelling is watchful, with watch plus -ful.

What does keep a watchful eye on mean?

It means to watch someone or something carefully, often to protect it or prevent problems.

Is watchful positive or negative?

It is usually neutral or positive. It can suggest care, caution, or quiet suspicion, depending on context.

What is the difference between watchful and alert?

Watchful suggests steady attention over time. Alert can also mean ready to react quickly.

What is the adverb of watchful?

The adverb is watchfully, as in She looked at the gate watchfully.

What is the noun form of watchful?

The noun is watchfulness, meaning the state of being watchful.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...