to stand sentinel
1
7.0
- phrasal verb
- Literature
- The towering statues stand sentinel in the park, watching over the visitors as they stroll by.
- trees stand sentinel
Examples
-
At Umma, modern Tell Jokha, a new but empty guard tower stands sentinel.
Academic text (2004) -
There were rhinos standing sentinel on the green hill we passed on the little train we rode that scared the baby at first.
Blog text (2) -
Every Friday, you can see them standing sentinel outside each cottage.
Fiction book (2001) -
One aloof stand sentinel.
-
One aloof stands sentinel.
-
I stand sentinel in the designated Marfa Lights parking lot beside Highway 90, looking south toward the distant Chinati Mountains.
Fiction book (2002) -
The stately buffalo roved in the distance, while the timid antelope stood sentinel on the neighboring heights.
Academic text (1995) -
The pit is about thirty feet long and half as wide, cleanly carved out alongside a vineyard by the huge orange backhoe that stands sentinel nearby.
Academic text (2004) -
The soldier stood sentinel at the entrance, ready to protect the camp from any threats.
-
The loyal dog stood sentinel by the front door, guarding his family while they slept.
Synonyms
432
2.4
To watch someone or something carefully to make sure nothing bad happens
155
2.3
To look after someone or something to keep them safe
126
3.5
To move regularly through an area to keep it safe
83
3.1
To stay alert and watch for danger or trouble
73
3.2
Watch carefully for someone or something
34
3.2
To stay in one place and watch to protect someone or something
22
3.1
To stay and watch to protect people or a place
16
3.4
To stay awake and guard people or a place
10
3.0
Look at a person or thing very carefully for a while to notice problems
Antonyms
How Watchful
- Literature
1
7.0
83
3.1
605
2.4
∞
1.0
300
1.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to keep watch or guard' is directly derivable from combining 'stand' (to remain in position) with 'sentinel' (a posted watcher) — essentially 'to stand as a sentinel'. This verb + noun composition follows a regular, compositional pattern (cf. 'stand guard', 'stand watch') and so is transparent to a learner who knows both constituent words, although 'sentinel' itself is less frequent.
Etymology
Stand sentinel comes from the clear image of a lone guard standing still at a gate or entrance, watching for danger. The word stand shows staying upright and sentinel means guard, so the phrase means 'to keep watch or guard'.