watchful

adjective

watch·​ful ˈwäch-fəl 

ˈwȯch-

1

archaic

a

: not able or accustomed to sleep or rest : wakeful

b

: causing sleeplessness

c

: spent in wakefulness : sleepless

2

: carefully observant or attentive : being on the watch

watchfully

ˈwäch-fə-lē 

ˈwȯch-

adverb

watchfulness noun

Synonyms

• alert
• Argus-eyed
• attentive
• awake
• observant
• open-eyed
• tenty [Scottish]
• tentie
• vigilant
• wide-awake

Choose the Right Synonym for watchful

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 watchful in a Sentence

We need to be more watchful of our children.

The hotel is being built under the watchful eye of its architect.

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests—including Keira Knightley in Chanel Couture, Gigi Hadid in a Moschino-meets-Midas masterpiece by Jeremy Scott, and Carla Bruni in archival Fall 1995 Galliano—had already spent the evening dining under the watchful eyes of classical sculptures. —Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025

Instead, groups like Cal Falcons have served as a watchful eye over the world’s fastest birds. —Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025

Every second a business is offline costs money, frustrates customers, alarms investors and draws the watchful eye of regulators. —Karthik Sj, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

Buddy took a plane ride for the first time, a big step in his service dog training, and interacted with players during batting practice under the watchful eyes of his trainers. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing watchful

• keep a watchful eye on (someone or something)
• under the watchful/vigilant eye of

Kids Definition

watchful

adjective

watch·​ful ˈwäch-fəl 

ˈwȯch-

: continually on the lookout especially for danger

watchfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

watchfulness noun