to keep watch
83
3.1
- phrasal verb
- We'll all take turns keeping watch all night.
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Watch on YouTubeThe Buddhist teachings ask us to take our seat in the world seriously, and to see it, sit with it, and wake up to it and keep watch.
- The Buddhist teachings ask us to take our seat in the world seriously, and to see it, sit with it, and wake up to it and keep watch.
Examples
-
The foursome sit back on the wide beach, one facing each direction, keeping watch.
Fiction book (2001) -
We agreed you'd keep watch on the boy.
-
I told you to keep watch.
-
Can you stand out here and keep watch?
-
Make yourself useful and go keep watch.
-
Move forward and keep watch.
-
I'll keep watch out here.
-
As I was saying, keep watch on the perimeters.
-
Reinhart was seated on the other side of the chamber, keeping watch on the doorway.
Fiction book (2001) -
You need to keep watch while the others are gathering supplies.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To be careful and pay attention to possible danger
600
3.5
To watch or check something over time
432
2.4
To watch someone or something carefully to make sure nothing bad happens
388
1.6
Watch for danger or trouble
356
3.0
Watch carefully to notice danger or help someone
155
2.3
To look after someone or something to keep them safe
73
3.2
Watch carefully for someone or something
52
3.9
To watch someone or something closely over time to see what happens
34
3.2
To stay in one place and watch to protect someone or something
27
3.4
To watch carefully so you notice danger or changes
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
2
3.8
Watch carefully for danger or a chance
1
7.0
To watch and guard a place or person
1
4.6
Watch carefully for something important or dangerous
Antonyms
How Alert
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'keep' (to continue or maintain) with 'watch' (to observe or stand guard), yielding 'maintain observation/stand guard.' This compositional pattern is common in English and similar to constructions in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Keep watch comes from old sailors who took turns staying awake on a ship to keep their watch and look for danger. So today, to keep watch means 'to stay alert and watch something carefully'.