on watch
Alert for trouble
On watch describes someone who is currently assigned to a period of duty, especially in military, nautical, or security contexts.
A sailor on watch monitors the ship during their designated shift; a guard on watch remains alert for threats or irregularities.
The phrase implies active vigilance and responsibility during a set time period.
The captain asked who was on watch when the collision occurred.
- preparednessState of being equipped
- guardingActively protecting something
- shiftMovement or work period
- sentryGuard on duty
- observationAttentive watching or remark
standing guard · post · lookout · on the lookout · oversight · guard duty · security detail · scanning · eagle eye · protecting · awareness · patrolling · perimeter check · reconnaissance · vigilance · sentinel · tower guard · wakefulness
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- Status phrasesat home, in town, on site, in transit, on location
- vigilancevigilant, alertness, attentiveness, alert, vigilance
on watchasleep
In a state of rest
off guard · unaware · inattentive · distracted · negligent
watch, watched, watching, watches, watcher, watchers, watchful, watchfully, watchfulness