English Meaning & Definitions
To be vigilant or alert to potential danger or a specific situation.
- “You should watch out for slippery patches on the road during the winter.”
- “Watch out! There is a car coming around the corner.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “watch out”.
The phrase combines the Old English 'wæccan' (to be awake, keep watch) with the adverb 'out' (used here to signify outward attention or vigilance). It evolved from the literal sense of keeping a lookout for enemies or hazards to a general imperative warning used to alert someone to immediate danger.
Imagine a person standing on a high tower looking 'out' to 'watch' for incoming trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions About “watch out”
1. What is the meaning of “watch out” in English?
In English, watch out (idiom) is defined as: “To be vigilant or alert to potential danger or a specific situation.”.
2. How do you use “watch out” in a sentence?
“You should watch out for slippery patches on the road during the winter.”
3. What are English synonyms of “watch out”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “watch out”?
The phrase combines the Old English 'wæccan' (to be awake, keep watch) with the adverb 'out' (used here to signify outward attention or vigilance). It evolved from the literal sense of keeping a lookout for enemies or hazards to a general imperative warning used to alert someone to immediate danger.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.