vigilant

adjective

vig·​i·​lant ˈvi-jə-lənt How to pronounce vigilant (audio)
: alertly watchful especially to avoid danger
vigilantly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for vigilant

watchful, vigilant, wide-awake, alert mean being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity.

watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers.

wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology

alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

Examples of vigilant in a Sentence

Over the years, as tension between pitchers and hit batsmen heightened to the point that hitters began rushing the mound, umpires have had to become far more vigilant about keeping the game from degenerating into a dogfight. Buzz Bissinger, Sports Illustrated, 21 Mar. 2005
At the Château de Wideville's magnificent seventeenth-century gates, guests have their names ticked off by vigilant staff and then snake through a lugubrious park à l'anglaise. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, September 2002
And as a foreign tourist in North Korea, under the care of vigilant minders who wanted me to see only the best, I had enjoyed the finest fare available. Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair, January 2001
A vigilant hand had, as usual, kept the fire alive and the lamp trimmed; and the room, with its rows and rows of books, its bronze and steel statuettes of "The Fencers" on the mantelpiece and its many photographs of famous pictures, looked singularly home-like and welcoming. Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence, 1920
When traveling through the city, tourists should be extra vigilant. They were vigilant about protecting their children. We remain vigilant against theft.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even in a market full of whales and insiders, everyday investors can still succeed by staying vigilant, sticking to sound strategies, and keeping a long-term perspective. Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 With scammers becoming more sophisticated each year, the IRS is urging taxpayers to stay vigilant and take extra precautions when filing their returns. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025 However, astronomers plan to remain vigilant in observing the space rock to ensure that 2024 YR4 poses no risk, and the James Webb Space Telescope is expected to observe the asteroid in early March to pin down more details about its orbit and exact size. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025 My eyes drifted between the streets, vigilant for potholes, and the curve of Guillaume’s shoulder blades under a heather gray T-shirt. Caitlin Gunther, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vigilant

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots), from Latin vigilant-, vigilans, from present participle of vigilare to keep watch, stay awake, from vigil awake

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vigilant was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vigilant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigilant. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

vigilant

adjective
vig·​i·​lant ˈvij-ə-lənt How to pronounce vigilant (audio)
: alert to signs of danger
vigilantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on vigilant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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