Standard Lemma guide

watchfulness

noun · 3 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

noun

Meaning 1

The state or quality of being watchful; alertness, vigilance or wakefulness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Continuous watchfulness is maintained around the clock.
  • 1784, Samuel Johnson, letter addressed to Mr. Langton dated 25 August, 1784, cited in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, Volume 2, p. 545, Nights of watchfulness produce torpid days [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

vigilant attentiveness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he keeps a weather eye open for trouble

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: vigilance, weather eye

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attentiveness

3

noun

Meaning 3

the process of paying close and continuous attention

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • wakefulness, watchfulness, and bellicosity make a good hunter
  • vigilance is especially susceptible to fatigue

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wakefulness, vigilance, alertness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attention

Narrower terms: jealousy

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English watchful Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English watchfulness From watchful + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: զգոնություն (zgonutʻyun) — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Bengali: সতর্কীকরণ (śotorkikron) — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Hindi: सतर्कता (satarkatā) — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Hindi: सजगता (sajagtā) — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Central Kurdish: ئاگاداری (agadarî) — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Latvian: modrība — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Latvian: modrums — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Russian: насторо́женность (nastoróžennostʹ) — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Spanish: vigilia — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness
  • Ukrainian: настороженість (nastoroženistʹ) — alertness, vigilance or wakefulness