{
    "term": "watch",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "watch",
            "heSheIt": "watches"
        },
        "pastSimple": "watched",
        "pastParticiple": "watched",
        "ingForm": "watching"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to look at somebody/something for a time, paying attention to what happens",
            "sensetop": "watch somebody/somethingwatch something for somethingwatch (for something)watch what, how, etc…watch somebody/something doing somethingwatch somebody/something do something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I was in the living room, **watching TV**.",
                    "contextForm": "watch somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A large crowd **watched the game** on Saturday."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **watch a film/movie/video/show**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The film is well made and **fun to watch**—just don't expect a classic."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He sat on the ground and watched me with great interest."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He watched the house for signs of activity.",
                    "contextForm": "watch something for something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He watched for signs of activity in the house.",
                    "contextForm": "watch (for something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Would you like to play?’ ‘No thanks—I'll just watch.’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She stood and watched as the taxi drove off."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We **watched to see** what would happen next."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Watch what I do, then you try.",
                    "contextForm": "watch what, how, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She watched the kids playing in the yard.",
                    "contextForm": "watch somebody/something doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They watched the bus disappear into the distance.",
                    "contextForm": "watch somebody/something do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He couldn't get in touch with her, so he would just have to watch and wait."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He tucked into his meal as I watched enviously."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He let me watch while he assembled the model."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He watched with great interest how she coaxed the animals inside."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could see Robby watching curiously."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I spent hours patiently watching the eagles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "My father religiously watched the show every Friday night."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She stood and watched them walk off down the road."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We watched helplessly as the tide washed our towels away."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She watched in astonishment as he smashed the machine to pieces."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She watched the man closely to see where he would go."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The injured player was made to watch as his team was defeated 4-0."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They could only watch in silence as their possessions were taken away."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They stopped to watch the procession go by."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They watched from an upstairs window."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We watched for any sign of change in the weather."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the most widely watched national news bulletins in the country"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A capacity crowd watched the semi-final."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I only let my kids watch television at the weekends."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This initiative is being closely watched by government regulators."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["TV, radio and news"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["carefully", "closely", "attentively"],
                "verb + watch": ["could only", "continue to", "pause to"],
                "preposition": ["for", "from", "in"],
                "phrases": ["sit and watch", "stand and watch", "watch and wait"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to take care of somebody/something for a short time",
            "sensetop": "watch somebody/something for somebodywatch something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Could you watch my bags for me while I buy a paper?",
                    "contextForm": "watch somebody/something for somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's OK, I can watch the baby for a while.",
                    "contextForm": "watch something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to be careful about something",
            "sensetop": "watch yourselfwatch somethingwatch where, what, etc…",
            "labels": "British English also(informal)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Watch yourself! *(= be careful, because you're in a dangerous situation)*",
                    "contextForm": "watch yourself"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Watch your bag—there are thieves around.",
                    "contextForm": "watch something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Watch your head on the low ceiling."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have to **watch every penny** *(= be careful what I spend)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Hey, watch where you're going!",
                    "contextForm": "watch where, what, etc…"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to pay attention to a situation so that you notice any changes",
            "sensetop": "watch somethingwatch for something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We're watching the situation very carefully.",
                    "contextForm": "watch something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This election is being **closely watched** in the region."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The food retail sector is one to watch."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We'll watch for any developments.",
                    "contextForm": "watch for something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to observe somebody's activities without their knowledge, especially over a period of time",
            "sensetop": "be (being) watched",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He didn't know he was being watched by the authorities.",
                    "contextForm": "be (being) watched"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be careful about what you say in order not to upset or offend somebody",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Watch your language, young man!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The referee told the players to mind their language."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to walk carefully",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to behave in a careful and sensible way",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You’d better watch your step with him if you don’t want trouble."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to protect yourself against danger",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She'd better watch her back if she wants to hold onto the top job."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be careful not to work longer than the required time; to think more about when your work will finish than about the work itself",
            "labels": "(disapproving)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "employees who are always watching the clock"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that when you are impatient for something to happen, time seems to pass very slowly",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used as a warning to somebody to be careful",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be careful what you say in order not to offend somebody or make them angry",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used in orders, to tell somebody to wait for more news about something to be announced",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I can't tell you any more right now, but watch this space."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be sure that you know what the time is, so that you finish something at the correct time, or are not late for something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'll have to watch the time. I need to leave early today."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to relax and watch people in a public place",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We sat outside a cafe, watching the world go by."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I love just watching the world go by."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wɒtʃ/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watch__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈwɒtʃɪz/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watches__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wɒtʃt/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watched__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈwɒtʃɪŋ/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watching__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wɑːtʃ/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watch__us_6.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈwɑːtʃɪz/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watches__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/wɑːtʃt/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watched__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/",
                "audio": "wa/watch/watching__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English wæcce ‘watchfulness’, wæccende ‘remaining awake’; related to the verb wake. The sense ‘small timepiece’ probably developed by way of a sense ‘alarm device attached to a clock’."
}