watch

The word “watch” means a small timepiece worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket. In plain terms, a small clock worn on the wrist, or the act of looking at something closely or guarding it.

“Watch” is pronounced WOCH (/ˈwɒt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

Here is “watch” used in a sentence: “He checked his watch and realised he was late.”

The opposite of “watch” — its antonyms — is ignore.

Depending on how it is used, “watch” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “watch” comes from Old English. From Old English wæċċe, related to the verb "wake" — originally referring to staying awake and alert.

“Watch” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Watch” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small timepiece worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket.

Both tell the time, but a watch is small and portable, worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket. A clock is larger and usually stays in one place — on a wall, desk, or tower. Put simply, a watch is a personal clock you carry with you.

Watches are commonly divided into analog, with moving hands on a dial, and digital, showing numbers on a screen. By mechanism they can be mechanical, automatic (self-winding), or quartz, powered by a battery. Smartwatches add computer features like messages and fitness tracking to the basic job of telling time.

An analog watch shows the time with hands moving around a numbered dial, the traditional design. A digital watch displays the time as numerals on an electronic screen, such as 9:41. Analog is often seen as classic and elegant, while digital is prized for showing the exact time at a glance.

A smartwatch is a wrist device that tells the time but also runs software like a small computer. It can show notifications, track fitness and heart rate, play music, and connect to a phone. It still counts as a watch because its core purpose remains showing the time on your wrist.