watcher

noun

watch·​er ˈwä-chər How to pronounce watcher (audio)
ˈwȯ-
: one that watches: such as
a
: one that sits up or continues awake at night
b
c(1)
: one that keeps watch beside a dead person
(2)
: one that attends a sick person at night
d
: a person who closely follows or observes someone or something
a Supreme Court watcher
often used in combination
celebrity-watchers
e
: a representative of a party or candidate who is stationed at the polls on an election day to watch the conduct of officials and voters

Examples of watcher in a Sentence

the inexperienced babysitter turned out to be a well-meaning but hopelessly incompetent watcher of young children a safari that affords wildlife watchers plenty of opportunities to see Africa's grandest creatures in their natural habitat
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But while Trump’s announcement of the delay has granted the two parties some more breathing space, market watchers warned Monday that a lot remains at stake. Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 May 2025 As to the impact of lion’s tail in the garden, veteran plant watchers point to its ability to focus the eye like few other species. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025 Industry watchers have long warned that Congress was under-funding the FAA, preventing the agency from upgrading its technology and limiting its ability to hire and train new air traffic controllers. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 May 2025 Some industry watchers lament a potential loss of new investing talent. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for watcher

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of watcher was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Watcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watcher. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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