watchful

[ woch-fuhl ]

adjective

1. vigilant or alert; closely observant:

   The sentry remained watchful throughout the night.

   Synonyms: wary, cautious, circumspect, careful, heedful, attentive

2. Archaic. wakeful.

watchful

/ ˈwɒtʃfʊl /

adjective

1. vigilant or alert
2. archaic.
   not sleeping

Derived Forms

• ˈwatchfully, adverb
• ˈwatchfulness, noun

Other Words From

• watchful·ly adverb
• watchful·ness noun
• self-watchful·ness noun
• un·watchful adjective
• un·watchful·ly adverb
• un·watchful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of watchful¹

First recorded in 1540–50; watch + -ful

Synonym Study

See alert.

Example Sentences

The panel’s gavel for decades has been swapped between chairs who saw their main task as casting a watchful eye on widening deficits and a growing national debt.

From Washington Post

From January to March, Freeman drives the roads along Central Valley’s almond orchards, keeping a watchful eye and fielding tips.

From Popular-Science

Finally, Ingenuity will take off on its first flight well within the watchful eye of the Perseverance rover and its cameras.

From Popular-Science

The watchful eye monitoring what’s commercially available to ingest is never as much watchful as we might like.

From Ozy

Much of the report spells out the need for strict oversight and ways to enforce regulations, under the watchful eyes of both scientists and the public.

From Singularity Hub 

There was no shelling this time, but there was the hum of watchful drones.

From The Daily Beast

The truth is the NYPD is no less watchful because it is not watching everybody.

From The Daily Beast

Under the watchful eye of Zuckerberg, Facebook’s policy seems to be “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

From The Daily Beast

Fuming, Jesse keeps a watchful eye on Walt, but he doesn't speak, or move.

From The Daily Beast

“Nickelodeon was nothing short of amazing to work for, and they had their watchful eye on us all,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

But Lucy had noted, out of the corner of her watchful eye, the arrival of Miss Grains, indignant and perspiring.

From Project Gutenberg

The public eye, ever watchful and timid, waits scarcely for the show of danger to take alarm and withdraw its favour.

From Project Gutenberg

The baby had wakened with a cry, and a watchful attendant came gliding in at the sound.

From Project Gutenberg

The sight of his quietly watchful eyes, his grimly smiling lips, seemed to infuse courage into her anew.

From Project Gutenberg

There can be no doubt that Robert's management of home affairs was watchful, energetic, and liberal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attentive
• careful
• cautious
• observant
• suspicious
• vigilant
• wary