watching and waiting
Alertly biding time
Watching and waiting describes a state of alert patience—remaining attentive while holding back from action until circumstances change or clarify.
The phrase often implies tension or anticipation: The whole town was watching and waiting for the verdict.
In medicine, watchful waiting is a strategy of monitoring a condition rather than treating it immediately.
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- lying in waitHidden before an attack
biding time · anxiety · scrutiny · assessment · foresight · mindfulness · resolve · persistence · tension · on edge · on tenterhooks · reconnaissance · restraint · stakeout · composure · alertness · suspense · pregnant pause
watching and waitingtaking action
Initiating purposeful effort
intervening · acting · jumping in · taking matters into one's own hands · striking
watching and waitingignoring
Deliberately not noticing
looking away · turning a blind eye · disregarding · tuning out · neglecting
watching and waitingjumping the gun
Acting before appropriate time
impatience · knee-jerk reaction · impetuousness · rushing in · haste
watch, watching, watched, watcher, watchers, watchful, watchfully, watchfulness, unwatched