babysitter
gb/bˈeɪbisˌɪtɚ/ us/bˈeɪbisˌɪtɚ/
A2
English
bébiszitter, felvigyázó, valakinek a pesztrája, watchdog
NOUN
A2
1
bébiszitter
A2
Usage pattern:
a babysitter (for [child/children]); get/hire a babysitter; [someone]'s babysitter
We hired a babysitter so we could go out for dinner.
Felfogadtunk egy bébiszittert, hogy elmehessünk vacsorázni.
The babysitter put the kids to bed at eight.
A bébiszitter nyolckor lefektette a gyerekeket.
Do you know a reliable babysitter in the neighborhood?
Learner examples
The babysitter is coming at 7 p.m.
A bébiszitter este 7-kor jön.
I need a babysitter for my two children.
Bébiszitterre van szükségem a két gyerekem mellé.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse babysitter (short-term) with nanny (often regular and longer-term, sometimes living with the family).
Meaning
person paid to watch children
Collocations
hire a babysitter
|get a babysitter
|find a babysitter
|regular babysitter
|local babysitter
|teenage babysitter
|trustworthy babysitter
|babysitter for the evening
|babysitter fees
|emergency babysitter
Synonyms
sitter (More general and informal; can also mean someone who watches pets or a house.)
|
childminder (Common in British English; often implies registered childcare, sometimes for groups.)
|
nanny (Usually more regular, longer-term childcare; may work full-time.)
Themes
family
|childcare
|daily_life
|work
Definition
A person who watches children when parents are out.
A person who is paid to look after children for a short time while the parents or guardians are away.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
felvigyázó
B2
Usage pattern:
a babysitter for [someone]; be [someone]'s babysitter
After his surgery, he needed someone to be a babysitter for a few days.
A műtétje után néhány napig szüksége volt valakire, aki mellette van és vigyáz rá.
I can’t go tonight—I’m basically my uncle’s babysitter while he recovers.
Ma este nem tudok menni – lényegében én vigyázok a nagybátyámra, amíg lábadozik.
She felt like a babysitter, constantly making sure he took his medication.
Learner examples
I stayed home as a babysitter for my grandmother.
Otthon maradtam, hogy vigyázzak a nagymamámra.
Common mistake:
This use can sound slightly disrespectful; in formal contexts, prefer caregiver, aide, or carer.
Meaning
person watching an adult briefly
Collocations
be his babysitter
|act as a babysitter
|need a babysitter for my dad
|stay as a babysitter
|someone's babysitter for the afternoon
Synonyms
caregiver (More respectful and general; can be professional or family.)
|
carer (Common in British English; often used in healthcare and social care.)
|
aide (Often a paid helper, especially in healthcare settings.)
Themes
health
|family
|caregiving
|daily_life
Definition
A person who stays with an adult who needs to be looked after.
A person who stays with an adult who needs supervision or help for a short time, for example because they are ill, elderly, or vulnerable.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
be a babysitter for [someone]; serve as the babysitter
I’m not going on that trip if I have to be everyone’s babysitter.
Nem megyek el arra az útra, ha nekem kell mindenkit pesztrálnom.
He expects his assistant to be a babysitter and remind him of everything.
Azt várja az asszisztensétől, hogy a bébiszittere legyen, és mindenre emlékeztesse.
Stop acting like my babysitter—I can handle it.
Learner examples
I don’t want to be his babysitter at work.
Nem akarok a bébiszittere lenni a munkahelyen.
Common mistake:
Usually critical; it suggests the other person should be more independent.
Meaning
person supervising someone irresponsible
Collocations
play the babysitter
|become the babysitter
|need a babysitter
|act like a babysitter
|serve as the babysitter on the trip
Synonyms
chaperone (Often about accompanying a group, especially young people, rather than managing incompetence.)
|
minder (Informal; emphasizes watching or guarding someone.)
Themes
work
|relationships
|behavior
|social_life
Definition
Someone who must watch another person like a child.
A person who has to supervise, manage, or keep an eye on someone who behaves irresponsibly or needs constant guidance, especially in a group or workplace.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
watchdog
C1
Usage pattern:
a babysitter for [system/process]; babysitter process
We run a babysitter process that restarts the service if it crashes.
Futtatunk egy watchdog folyamatot, amely újraindítja a szolgáltatást, ha az összeomlik.
A watchdog (or babysitter) checks the connection every minute.
Egy watchdog (más néven babysitter) percenként ellenőrzi a kapcsolatot.
The babysitter script sends an alert when the job hangs.
Common mistake:
This is specialized jargon; in general English, babysitter usually means a person caring for children.
Meaning
program that monitors and restarts
Collocations
babysitter process
|babysitter script
|system babysitter
|service babysitter
|a babysitter for the server
Synonyms
watchdog (More standard technical term for the same idea.)
|
monitor (Broader; may only observe, not restart or intervene.)
Themes
technology
|computing
Definition
A tool that checks a system and fixes it if it stops working.
A program or device that monitors another system or process and alerts, restarts, or takes action if it fails or stops responding.
Grammar
Dictionary form
babysitter
IPA
GB/bˈeɪbisˌɪtɚ/
US/bˈeɪbisˌɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
babysit - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (babysit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: babysitter
- Plural: babysitters
Word family
Forms
babysitters
noun
Core family
babysit
verb A2
babysitting
noun
Expressions
babysitter cam
1/bˈeɪbisˌɪtɚ kˈæm/
fixed phrase
camera used to monitor babysitter
A camera parents use to watch the babysitter.
Examples
- They installed a babysitter cam in the living room.
- The babysitter found out about the babysitter cam and quit.
- A babysitter cam can help parents feel more secure, but it raises privacy concerns.
Learner examples
- They used a babysitter cam at home.
babysitter state
1/bˈeɪbisˌɪtɚ stˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
government seen as overprotective
A government that controls people too much “for their own good.”
Examples
- Some critics say the new safety rules are turning us into a babysitter state.
- He argued that higher taxes and bans are signs of a babysitter state.
- The columnist warned against a growing babysitter state.
play babysitter (to [someone])
1/plˈeɪ bˈeɪbisˌɪtɚ tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
informal
supervise someone like a child
To watch someone closely because they can’t manage alone.
Examples
- I’m done playing babysitter to grown adults on this project.
- She refused to play babysitter for her younger brother all weekend.
- He thinks it’s my job to play babysitter and fix his mistakes.
Learner examples
- I don’t want to play babysitter.