noun · 4 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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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈwɒtʃnaɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈwɑt͡ʃnaɪt/
1
noun
Meaning 1
A religious service involving a review of the past year and preparation for the year ahead participated in by Methodists and members of other Christian denominations which usually starts late on New Year's Eve and ends after midnight on New Year's Day; hence, the night that begins on December 31 and ends on January 1.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
Examples
Holonym: New Year's (holiday-time sense)
Near-synonym: New Year's Eve (not identical to watchnight: New Year's Eve is the entire day before New Year's Day (or specifically its evening), whereas watchnight is the night that begins at sundown on New Year's Eve and ends with sunrise on New Year's Day)
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: New Year's Eve
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A monthly or quarterly religious service participated in by Methodists which extended past midnight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Any religious or spiritual vigil.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A night watchman.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Africa, West
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
