to keep an eye on

Examples

• All

• Ashley, keep an eye on your sister.

  Ordinary Angels (2024)

• It's hard for me to always keep an eye on my son.

• Are you keeping an eye on the House for us?

• Always keep an eye on it and we'll talk to you soon.

  Doctor Eye Health

• So now we got to keep an eye on these guys like, oh, do we mess up?

• Ah, but you see my job is to keep an eye on you.

  Thunderbolts* (2025)

• I want you up on the bridge where I can keep an eye on you.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Anyway, I thought you were keeping an eye on that poor little girl.

  Fiction book (1990)

• I want to keep an eye on Jason.

  Hell of a Summer (2023)

• Keep an eye on those two.

  The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

Synonyms

W

to watch

vsto keep an eye on

∞ 1.0

To be careful and pay attention to possible danger

is protective monitoring aimed at preventing harm rather than momentary vigilance

P

to pay attention

vsto keep an eye on

∞ 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

is continuous protective watching rather than short mental focus or listening

M

to monitor

vsto keep an eye on

627 3.5

To watch or check something over time

is human, safety focused watching rather than technical long term tracking

O

to observe

vsto keep an eye on

619 2.4

To watch something carefully to learn about it

is watching mainly to keep someone safe rather than to study them

L

to look after

vsto keep an eye on

472 1.1

Take care of someone or something to keep them safe and working

is mainly brief monitoring to prevent immediate harm rather than long term care

L

to look out for

vsto keep an eye on

291 3.0

Watch carefully to notice danger or help someone

is focused watching to stop harm rather than only offering help

W

to watch over

vsto keep an eye on

145 2.3

To look after someone or something to keep them safe

is general watching and monitoring focused on safety rather than supervision

K

to keep an eye out

vsto keep an eye on

• Informal

134 3.2

Watch carefully for someone or something

is broader safety monitoring over time rather than occasional eager lookout

K

to keep one's eyes open

vsto keep an eye on

97 3.8

Watch carefully for danger or a chance

is active guarding to prevent harm rather than casual alertness

O

on the lookout for

vsto keep an eye on

47 3.4

Watching carefully to find someone or something

is broader safety watching to prevent harm rather than actively searching

K

to keep tabs on

vsto keep an eye on

• Informal

43 3.9

To watch someone or something closely over time to see what happens

is watching primarily to prevent harm not merely to follow progress

K

to keep watch

vsto keep an eye on

30 3.1

To stay alert and watch for danger or trouble

is regular careful monitoring intended to prevent bad events not just observe

S

to stay on top of

vsto keep an eye on

27 4.1

To keep informed and in control to avoid problems

is immediate protective watching rather than managing or administrative control

K

to keep one's eyes peeled

vsto keep an eye on

• Informal

16 4.6

Watch carefully for something important or dangerous

is ongoing safety monitoring rather than a single focused search

S

to stand watch

vsto keep an eye on

• Jargon

10 3.4

To stay awake and guard people or a place

is a less formal everyday watching to stop harm rather than duty

S

to surveil

vsto keep an eye on

9 8.4

To watch people or places closely to get information and stop crime

is ordinary safety watching rather than formal investigative observation

K

to keep a close watch

vsto keep an eye on

8 3.0

Look at a person or thing very carefully for a while to notice problems

is the general act of watching to prevent harm rather than intense checking

K

to keep guard

vsto keep an eye on

2 3.1

To stay and watch to protect people or a place

is broader watching not limited to active guarding or defense roles

K

to keep an eye peeled

vsto keep an eye on

• Informal

1 6.0

Watch carefully for something you expect to see

is general protective observation rather than narrowly searching for one thing

S

to stand sentinel

vsto keep an eye on

• Literature

1 7.0

To watch and guard a place or person

is everyday safety monitoring rather than fixed guarding post duties

K

to keep one's eyes skinned

vsto keep an eye on

• UK

8.2

Watch carefully for danger or a chance to act

is protective monitoring in duties rather than vivid or idiomatic alertness

O

to obs

vsto keep an eye on

• Informal

9.9

To watch people quietly to see how they behave

is formal or purposeful monitoring aimed at safety rather than casual attention

How Watchful

to keep a close watch

8 3.0

to keep an eye on

• Informal

408 2.4

to watch

∞ 1.0

to glance at

150 2.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology