Attention vs. Watch — What's the Difference?

Attention is the behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on a discrete aspect of information, whether considered subjective or objective, while ignoring other perceivable information. William James (1890) wrote that "Attention is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought.

A watch is a portable timepiece intended to be carried or worn by a person. It is designed to keep a consistent movement despite the motions caused by the person's activities.

Notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important

Look at or observe attentively over a period of time

The action of dealing with or taking special care of someone or something

Exercise care, caution, or restraint about

A position assumed by a soldier, standing very straight with the feet together and the arms straight down the sides of the body

Remain awake for the purpose of religious observance

The act of close or careful observing or listening

A small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist

The ability or power to keep the mind on something; the ability to concentrate

An act or instance of carefully observing someone or something over a period of time

Notice or observation

A film or programme considered in terms of its appeal to the public

The act of dealing with something or someone; treatment

A flock of nightingales

Acts of interest or interference

To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant

Acts of consideration or courtesy, especially in an effort to win someone's affection or gain sexual favors

To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation

A military posture, with the body erect, eyes to the front, arms at the sides, and heels together.

To act as a spectator; look on

Used as a command to assume an erect military posture.

To stay awake at night while serving as a guard, sentinel, or watcher.

(uncountable) Mental focus.

To stay alert as a devotional or religious exercise; keep vigil.

(countable) An action or remark expressing concern for or interest in someone or something, especially romantic interest.

To look at steadily; observe carefully or continuously

A state of alertness in the standing position.

To guard, keep surveillance on, or spy on

A technique in neural networks that mimics cognitive attention, enhancing the important parts of the input data while giving less priority to the rest.

To observe the course of mentally; keep up on or informed about

(military) Used as a command to bring soldiers to the attention position.

To pay close attention to or be careful about, especially with regard to propriety

A call for people to be quiet/stop doing what they are presently doing and pay heed to what they are to be told or shown.

To tend or take care of (children or a flock of sheep, for example).

The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of attending.

A portable or wearable timepiece.

An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger.

The act of guarding and observing someone or something.

The process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

A particular time period when guarding is kept.

The work of caring for or attending to someone or something;

A period of wakefulness between the two sleeps of a biphasic sleep pattern (the dead sleep or first sleep and morning sleep or second sleep): the first waking.

A general interest that leads people to want to know more;

A person or group of people who guard.

A courteous act indicating affection;

The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.

The faculty or power of mental concentration;

(nautical) A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.

A motionless erect stance with arms at the sides and feet together; assumed by military personnel during drill or review;

(nautical) A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length; the officers and crew who tend the working of a vessel during the same watch. (FM 55–501).

The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.

(ambitransitive) To look at, see, or view for a period of time.

(transitive) To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.

(transitive) To mind, attend, or guard.

(transitive) To be wary or cautious of.

(transitive) To attend to dangers to or regarding.

(intransitive) To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil. en

(intransitive) To be vigilant or on one's guard.

(intransitive) To act as a lookout.

To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.

To be awake.

To be on the lookout for; to wait for expectantly.

The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night.

One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.

The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.

The period of the night during which a person does duty as a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.

A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.

An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf. Dogwatch.

To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.

To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.

To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.

To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever.

To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; - said of a buoy.

To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature.

To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.

A small portable timepiece

A period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty

A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe

The period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty

A person employed to watch for something to happen

A devotional watch (especially on the eve of a religious festival)

Look attentively;

Follow with the eyes or the mind;

See or watch;

Observe with attention;

Be vigilant, be on the lookout, be on one's guard, be careful;

Observe or determine by looking;

Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort;