See vs. Watch — What's the Difference?
Difference Between See and Watch
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Compare with Definitions
See
Perceive with the eyes; discern visually
Andrew couldn't see out of his left eye
In the distance she could see the blue sea
I can't see into the future
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.
See
Discern or deduce after reflection or from information; understand
I can't see any other way to treat it
She could see what Rhoda meant
I saw that perhaps he was right
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
See
Experience or witness (an event or situation)
I shall not live to see it
I can't bear to see you so unhappy
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Watch
Exercise care, caution, or restraint about
You should watch what you say!
Most women watch their diet during pregnancy
See
Meet (someone one knows) socially or by chance
I saw Colin last night
Watch
Remain awake for the purpose of religious observance
She watched whole nights in the church
See
Escort or conduct (someone) to a specified place
Don't bother seeing me out
Watch
A small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist
My watch had stopped
See
Ensure
See that no harm comes to him
Lucy saw to it that everyone got enough to eat
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
See
(in poker or brag) equal the bet of (an opponent) and require them to reveal their cards in order to determine who has won the hand.
Watch
A film or programme considered in terms of its appeal to the public
This movie's an engrossing watch
See
The place in which a cathedral church stands, identified as the seat of authority of a bishop or archbishop.
Watch
A flock of nightingales
A watch of nightingales began flying south
See
To perceive with the eye
Do you see the hawk in the tree?.
Watch
To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant
Watching for trail markers.
See
To detect by means analogous to use of the eye
The surveillance camera saw the intruders.
Watch
To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation
Watch for an opportunity.
See
To attend or view as a spectator
Saw a play.
Watch
To act as a spectator; look on
Stood by the road and watched.
See
To refer to or look at
Persons interested in the book's history should see page one of the preface.
Watch
To stay awake at night while serving as a guard, sentinel, or watcher.
See
To become aware of or apprehend
She saw from his expression that he did not want to go.
Watch
To stay alert as a devotional or religious exercise; keep vigil.
See
To find out or ascertain, often by moving
Please see who's knocking.
Watch
To look at steadily; observe carefully or continuously
Watch a parade.
See
To take note of; recognize
She sees only the good aspects of the organization.
Watch
To guard, keep surveillance on, or spy on
Watched the prisoner all day.
Watched the house to see who came and went.
See
To consider to be; regard
Many see her as an inspiring figure.
Watch
To observe the course of mentally; keep up on or informed about
Watch the price of gold.
See
To have a mental image of; visualize
They could still see their hometown as it once was.
Watch
To pay close attention to or be careful about, especially with regard to propriety
Watched his manners.
See
To foresee or imagine
I see great things for that child.
Watch
To tend or take care of (children or a flock of sheep, for example).
See
To know through firsthand experience; undergo or experience
He saw service in the navy. She has seen many changes in her lifetime.
Watch
A portable or wearable timepiece.
More people today carry a watch on their wrists than in their pockets.
See
To be characterized by; be the time for
"The 1930s saw the development of sulfa drugs and penicillin" (Gregg Easterbrook).
Watch
The act of guarding and observing someone or something.
See
To be subjected to; undergo
This word sees a lot of use in sports.
Watch
A particular time period when guarding is kept.
The second watch of the night began at midnight.
See
To visit, meet, or be in the company of
I saw all my aunts and uncles at the reunion.
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.
See
To share the companionship of as a romantic partner
He's been seeing the same woman for eight years.
Watch
A person or group of people who guard.
The watch stopped the travelers at the city gates.
See
To visit for consultation
You ought to see your doctor more frequently.
Watch
The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
See
To admit or receive, as for consultation or a social visit
The doctor will see you now.
Watch
(nautical) A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.
See
To escort; attend
I'm seeing Amy home.
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).
See
To make sure; take care
See that it gets done right away.
Watch
The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.
See
To meet (a bet) in card games.
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.
See
To meet the bet of (another player).
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.
See
To have the power to perceive with the eyes
Once I got glasses I could see much better.
Watch
(transitive) To mind, attend, or guard.
Please watch my suitcase for a minute.
He has to watch the kids that afternoon.
See
To have the ability to detect or record visual information
This telescope sees far into space.
Watch
(transitive) To be wary or cautious of.
You should watch that guy. He has a reputation for lying.
See
To understand; comprehend
As you can see, life in medieval Europe was difficult.
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.
See
To consider
Let's see, which suitcase should we take?.
Watch
(intransitive) To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil. en
See
To go and look
She had to see for herself and went into the garage.
Watch
(intransitive) To be vigilant or on one's guard.
For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away.
See
To ascertain; find out
We probably can do it, but we'll have to see.
Watch
(intransitive) To act as a lookout.
See
To have foresight
"No man can see to the end of time" (John F. Kennedy).
Watch
To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.
See
The official seat, center of authority, jurisdiction, or office of a bishop.
Watch
To be awake.
See
(Obsolete) A cathedra.
Watch
To be on the lookout for; to wait for expectantly.
See
(transitive) To perceive or detect someone or something with the eyes, or as if by sight.
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.
See
To witness or observe by personal experience.
Now I've seen it all!
I have been blind since birth and I love to read Braille. When the books arrive in from the library, I can’t wait to see what stories they have sent me.
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.
See
To watch (a movie) at a cinema, or a show on television etc.
I saw the latest Tarantino flick last week.
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.
See
To form a mental picture of.
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.
See
(figuratively) To understand.
Do you see what I mean?
Watch
A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.
See
To come to a realization of having been mistaken or misled.
They're blind to the damage they do, but someday they'll see.
Watch
An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf. Dogwatch.
See
(transitive) To foresee, predict, or prophesy.
The oracle saw the destruction of the city.
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 ?
See
(used in the imperative) Used to emphasise a proposition.
You see, Johnny, your Dad isn't your real father.
You're not welcome here any more, see?
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.
See
(social) To meet, to visit.
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.
See
To have an interview with; especially, to make a call upon; to visit.
To go to see a friend
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.
See
To date frequently.
I've been seeing her for two months.
Watch
To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; - said of a buoy.
See
To visit for a medical appointment.
You should see a doctor about that rash on your arm.
I've been seeing a therapist for three years now.
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.
See
(transitive; ergative) To be the setting or time of.
The 20th century saw humanity's first space exploration.
1999 saw the release of many great films.
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.
See
(by extension) To ensure that something happens, especially while witnessing it.
I'll see you hang for this!
I saw that they didn't make any more trouble.
Watch
A small portable timepiece
See
(transitive) To wait upon; attend, escort.
I saw the old lady safely across the road.
You can see yourself out.
Watch
A period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty
See
To respond to another player's bet with a bet of equal value.
I'll see your twenty dollars and raise you ten.
Watch
A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
See
To determine by trial or experiment; to find out (if or whether).
I'll come over later and see if I can fix your computer.
You think I can't beat you in a race, eh? We'll see.
Watch
The period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty
See
(used in the imperative) To reference or to study for further details.
Step 4: In the system, check out the laptop to the student (see: "Logging Resources" in the Tutor Manual).
For a complete proof of the Poincaré conjecture, see Appendix C.
Watch
A person employed to watch for something to happen
See
To examine something closely, or to utilize something, often as a temporary alternative.
Can I see that lighter for a second? Mine just quit working.
Watch
A devotional watch (especially on the eve of a religious festival)
See
To include as one of something's experiences.
The equipment has not seen usage outside of our projects.
I saw military service in Vietnam.
Watch
Look attentively;
Watch a basketball game
See
Introducing an explanation
See, in order to win the full prize we would have to come up with a scheme to land a rover on the Moon.
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
See
A diocese, archdiocese; a region of a church, generally headed by a bishop, especially an archbishop.
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
See
The office of a bishop or archbishop; bishopric or archbishopric
Watch
Observe with attention;
They watched as the murderer was executed
See
A seat; a site; a place where sovereign power is exercised.
Watch
Be vigilant, be on the lookout, be on one's guard, be careful;
Watch out for pickpockets!
See
A seat; a site; a place where sovereign power is exercised.
Jove laughed on Venus from his sovereign see.
Watch
Observe or determine by looking;
Watch how the dog chases the cats away
See
The seat of episcopal power; a diocese; the jurisdiction of a bishop; as, the see of New York.
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
See
To perceive by the eye; to have knowledge of the existence and apparent qualities of by the organs of sight; to behold; to descry; to view.
I will now turn aside, and see this great sight.
See
To perceive by mental vision; to form an idea or conception of; to note with the mind; to observe; to discern; to distinguish; to understand; to comprehend; to ascertain.
Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren.
Jesus saw that he answered discreetly.
Who's so grossThat seeth not this palpable device?
See
To follow with the eyes, or as with the eyes; to watch; to regard attentively; to look after.
I had a mind to see him out, and therefore did not care for contradicting him.
See
To have an interview with; especially, to make a call upon; to visit; as, to go to see a friend.
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death.
See
To fall in with; to meet or associate with; to have intercourse or communication with; hence, to have knowledge or experience of; as, to see military service.
Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Improvement in wisdom and prudence by seeing men.
See
To accompany in person; to escort; to wait upon; as, to see one home; to see one aboard the cars.
See
In poker and similar games at cards, to meet (a bet), or to equal the bet of (a player), by staking the same sum.
See
To have the power of sight, or of perceiving by the proper organs; to possess or employ the sense of vision; as, he sees distinctly.
Whereas I was blind, now I see.
See
Figuratively: To have intellectual apprehension; to perceive; to know; to understand; to discern; - often followed by a preposition, as through, or into.
For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Many sagacious persons will find us out, . . . and see through all our fine pretensions.
See
To be attentive; to take care; to give heed; - generally with to; as, to see to the house.
See that ye fall not out by the way.
Cassio's a proper man, let me see now, -To get his place.
See
The seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
See
Perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight;
You have to be a good observer to see all the details
Can you see the bird in that tree?
He is blind--he cannot see
See
Perceive (an idea or situation) mentally;
Now I see!
I just can't see your point
Does she realize how important this decision is?
I don't understand the idea
See
Perceive or be contemporaneous with;
We found Republicans winning the offices
You'll see a lot of cheating in this school
I want to see results
The 1960 saw the rebellion of the younger generation against established traditions
I want to see results
See
Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind;
I can't see him on horseback!
I can see what will happen
I can see a risk in this strategy
See
Deem to be;
She views this quite differently from me
I consider her to be shallow
I don't see the situation quite as negatively as you do
See
Get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally;
I learned that she has two grown-up children
I see that you have been promoted
See
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
See
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
See
Come together;
I'll probably see you at the meeting
How nice to see you again!
See
Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something;
He verified that the valves were closed
See that the curtains are closed
Control the quality of the product
See
Go to see for professional or business reasons;
You should see a lawyer
We had to see a psychiatrist
See
Go to see for a social visit;
I went to see my friend Mary the other day
See
Visit a place, as for entertainment;
We went to see the Eiffel Tower in the morning
See
Take charge of or deal with;
Could you see about lunch?
I must attend to this matter
She took care of this business
See
Receive as a specified guest;
The doctor will see you now
The minister doesn't see anybody before noon
See
Date regularly; have a steady relationship with;
Did you know that she is seeing an older man?
He is dating his former wife again!
See
See and understand, have a good eye;
The artist must first learn to see
See
Deliberate or decide;
See whether you can come tomorrow
Let's see--which movie should we see tonight?
See
Observe as if with an eye;
The camera saw the burglary and recorded it
See
Observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect;
The customs agent examined the baggage
I must see your passport before you can enter the country
See
Go or live through;
We had many trials to go through
He saw action in Viet Nam
See
Accompany or escort;
I'll see you to the door
See
Match or meet;
I saw the bet of one of my fellow players
See
Make sense of; assign a meaning to;
What message do you see in this letter?
How do you interpret his behavior?
See
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