Ask Difference

Attention vs. Watch — What's the Difference?

Attention vs. Watch — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Attention and Watch

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare with Definitions

Attention

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.

Watch

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.

Attention

Notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important
He drew attention to three spelling mistakes

Watch

Look at or observe attentively over a period of time
As she watched, two women came into the garden
Lucy watched him go
Everyone stopped to watch what was going on

Attention

The action of dealing with or taking special care of someone or something
He was found guilty of failing to give a patient adequate medical attention
Her business needed her attention
ADVERTISEMENT

Watch

Exercise care, caution, or restraint about
You should watch what you say!
Most women watch their diet during pregnancy

Attention

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

Watch

Remain awake for the purpose of religious observance
She watched whole nights in the church

Attention

The act of close or careful observing or listening
You'll learn more if you pay attention in class.

Watch

A small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist
My watch had stopped

Attention

The ability or power to keep the mind on something; the ability to concentrate
We turned our attention to the poem's last stanza.

Watch

An act or instance of carefully observing someone or something over a period of time
The security forces have been keeping a close watch on our activities

Attention

Notice or observation
The billboard caught our attention.

Watch

A film or programme considered in terms of its appeal to the public
This movie's an engrossing watch

Attention

The act of dealing with something or someone; treatment
This injury requires immediate medical attention.

Watch

A flock of nightingales
A watch of nightingales began flying south

Attention

Acts of interest or interference
"men who wanted ... freedom from censorship and the attentions of the police" (John Kenneth Galbraith).

Watch

To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant
Watching for trail markers.

Attention

Acts of consideration or courtesy, especially in an effort to win someone's affection or gain sexual favors
"She was almost giddy with disbelief at the unexpected attentions of a handsome, well-spoken, obviously professional man" (Rob Kantner).

Watch

To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation
Watch for an opportunity.

Attention

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

Watch

To act as a spectator; look on
Stood by the road and watched.

Attention

Used as a command to assume an erect military posture.

Watch

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

Attention

(uncountable) Mental focus.
Please direct your attention to the following words.

Watch

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

Attention

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

Watch

To look at steadily; observe carefully or continuously
Watch a parade.

Attention

A state of alertness in the standing position.
The company will now come to attention.

Watch

To guard, keep surveillance on, or spy on
Watched the prisoner all day.
Watched the house to see who came and went.

Attention

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

Watch

To observe the course of mentally; keep up on or informed about
Watch the price of gold.

Attention

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

Watch

To pay close attention to or be careful about, especially with regard to propriety
Watched his manners.

Attention

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.

Watch

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

Attention

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.
They say the tongues of dying menEnforce attention like deep harmony.

Watch

A portable or wearable timepiece.
More people today carry a watch on their wrists than in their pockets.

Attention

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

Watch

The act of guarding and observing someone or something.

Attention

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

Watch

A particular time period when guarding is kept.
The second watch of the night began at midnight.

Attention

The work of caring for or attending to someone or something;
No medical care was required
The old car needed constant attention

Watch

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.

Attention

A general interest that leads people to want to know more;
She was the center of attention

Watch

A person or group of people who guard.
The watch stopped the travelers at the city gates.

Attention

A courteous act indicating affection;
She tried to win his heart with her many attentions

Watch

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

Attention

The faculty or power of mental concentration;
Keeping track of all the details requires your complete attention

Watch

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

Attention

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

Watch

(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).

Watch

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

Watch

(ambitransitive) To look at, see, or view for a period of time.
Watching the clock will not make time go faster.
I'm tired of watching TV.

Watch

(transitive) To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.
Watch this!
Put a little baking soda in some vinegar and watch what happens.

Watch

(transitive) To mind, attend, or guard.
Please watch my suitcase for a minute.
He has to watch the kids that afternoon.

Watch

(transitive) To be wary or cautious of.
You should watch that guy. He has a reputation for lying.

Watch

(transitive) To attend to dangers to or regarding.
Watch your head; watch your step
Watch yourself when you talk to him.
Watch what you say.

Watch

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

Watch

(intransitive) To be vigilant or on one's guard.
For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away.

Watch

(intransitive) To act as a lookout.

Watch

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

Watch

To be awake.

Watch

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

Watch

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.
Shepherds keeping watch by night.
All the long night their mournful watch they keep.
Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward.
Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins when ward ends, and ends when that begins.

Watch

One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

Watch

The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
He upbraids Iago, that he made himBrave me upon the watch.

Watch

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.
I did stand my watch upon the hill.
Might we but hear . . . Or whistle from the lodge, or village cockCount the night watches to his feathery dames.

Watch

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

Watch

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

Watch

To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.
I have two nights watched with you.
Couldest thou not watch one hour ?

Watch

To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.
Take ye heed, watch and pray.
The Son gave signal highTo the bright minister that watched.

Watch

To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.

Watch

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.

Watch

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

Watch

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.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him, and to slay him.
I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity.
In lazy mood I watched the little circles die.

Watch

To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.
And flaming ministers, to watch and tendTheir earthy charge.
Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida.

Watch

A small portable timepiece

Watch

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

Watch

A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe

Watch

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

Watch

A person employed to watch for something to happen

Watch

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

Watch

Look attentively;
Watch a basketball game

Watch

Follow with the eyes or the mind;
Keep an eye on the baby, please!
The world is watching Sarajevo
She followed the men with the binoculars

Watch

See or watch;
View a show on television
This program will be seen all over the world
View an exhibition
Catch a show on Broadway
See a movie

Watch

Observe with attention;
They watched as the murderer was executed

Watch

Be vigilant, be on the lookout, be on one's guard, be careful;
Watch out for pickpockets!

Watch

Observe or determine by looking;
Watch how the dog chases the cats away

Watch

Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort;
I want to see whether she speaks French
See whether it works
Find out if he speaks Russian
Check whether the train leaves on time

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Main vs. Predominant
Next Comparison
Recount vs. Tell

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms