Phrase guide

keep an eye on

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To watch and pay attention to, in case of misbehaviour or mishap.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I must keep an eye on this sauce in case it curdles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: monitor, track, observe, watch

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

follow with the eyes or the mind

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Keep an eye on the baby, please!
  • The world is watching Sarajevo
  • She followed the men with the binoculars

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: watch, observe, follow, watch over

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: check, check up on, look into, check out, suss out, check over, go over, check into

Narrower terms: keep tabs on, guard, invigilate, proctor

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 關照 /关照 (guānzhào) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Danish: holde øje med — to watch and pay attention to
  • Dutch: in de gaten houden — to watch and pay attention to
  • Finnish: pitää silmällä — to watch and pay attention to
  • French: guetter — to watch and pay attention to
  • French: épier — to watch and pay attention to
  • French: avoir à l’œil — to watch and pay attention to
  • French: ne pas quitter des yeux — to watch and pay attention to
  • Galician: botar un ollo — to watch and pay attention to
  • German: im Auge behalten — to watch and pay attention to
  • German: aufpassen — to watch and pay attention to
  • Hungarian: szemmel tart — to watch and pay attention to
  • Icelandic: passa upp á — to watch and pay attention to
  • Icelandic: hafa auga á — to watch and pay attention to
  • Italian: tenere d'occhio — to watch and pay attention to
  • Japanese: 目をつけている (me o tsukete iru) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Portuguese: ficar de olho — to watch and pay attention to
  • Russian: присма́тривать (prismátrivatʹ) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Russian: присмотре́ть (prismotrétʹ) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Russian: пригля́дывать (prigljádyvatʹ) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Russian: пригляде́ть (prigljadétʹ) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Russian: держать глаз на (deržatʹ glaz na) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Russian: глаз не спуска́ть (glaz ne spuskátʹ) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Russian: следи́ть (sledítʹ) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Serbo-Croatian: држати на оку (držati na oku) — to watch and pay attention to
  • Spanish: vigilar — to watch and pay attention to
  • Spanish: estar pendiente de — to watch and pay attention to
  • Spanish: custodiar — to watch and pay attention to
  • Swedish: hålla ett öga på — to watch and pay attention to
  • Swedish: hålla koll på — to watch and pay attention to
  • Swedish: se efter — to watch and pay attention to
  • Vietnamese: theo dõi — to watch and pay attention to
  • Vietnamese: dõi theo — to watch and pay attention to