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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

watch

/wɑtʃ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does watch mean?

noun

  1. A portable or wearable timepiece.
  2. The act of guarding and observing someone or something.
  3. A particular time period when guarding is kept.
More meanings (18)

noun

  1. A period of wakefulness between the two sleeps of a biphasic sleep pattern (the dead sleep or first sleep and morning sleep or second sleep): the first waking.
  2. A person or group of people who guard.
  3. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
  4. A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.
  5. A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length; the officers and crew who tend the working of a vessel during the same watch. (FM 55–501).
  6. The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.
  7. (rare) A group of nightingales.

verb

  1. To look at, see, or view for a period of time.
  2. To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.
  3. To mind, attend, or guard.
  4. To be wary or cautious of.
  5. To attend to dangers to or regarding.
  6. To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil.
  7. To be vigilant or on one's guard.
  8. To act as a lookout.
  9. To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.
  10. (obsolete) To be awake.
  11. (obsolete) To be on the lookout for; to wait for expectantly.
Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/wɑtʃ/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

Other dictionary pronunciations

/wɔtʃ/
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The Medical Man was standing before the fire with a sheet of paper in one hand and his watch in the other.
H. G. (Herbert George) WellsThe Time MachineProject Gutenberg ebook #35
He glanced at his watch, then absently took from his pocket a bunch of small keys, selected one and looked at it.
Willa CatherThe Song of the LarkProject Gutenberg ebook #44
More book examples (3)
“Then we can’t get there by five, for it’s half past four now,” said Diana, with a despairing look at her watch.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) MontgomeryAnne of AvonleaProject Gutenberg ebook #47
If you will take a man to a clothing-store and watch him try on a dozen pairs of trousers, you will see.
Mark TwainWhat Is Man? and Other EssaysProject Gutenberg ebook #70
“Get ’em ready, then. I’ll watch developments from here, an’ send you word when t’ start them. It’ll happen in five minutes.”
Stephen CraneThe Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil WarProject Gutenberg ebook #73