watcher
gb/wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/ us/wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/
B1
English
~ 9900
megfigyelő, szemlélő, őr, figyelő, őrszem, elemző, figyelemmel kísérő, szakértő
NOUN
B1
1
megfigyelő
B2
szemlélő
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a watcher of [something]
He’s a careful watcher of people on the subway and often sketches them.
A metrón alapos megfigyelője az embereknek, és gyakran le is rajzolja őket.
From her seat by the window, she became a quiet watcher of the street below.
Az ablak melletti helyéről a lenti utca csendes szemlélője lett.
The documentary is perfect for any watcher of old black‑and‑white films.
As a longtime watcher of the team, she noticed their style had completely changed.
I’m more of a watcher than a dancer at parties.
Learner examples
My brother is a great watcher of birds in our garden.
A fivérem nagyon jó megfigyelője a kertünk madarainak.
She sits in the park and is a watcher of people walking by.
A parkban ül, és csendes megfigyelője az arra sétáló embereknek.
I am a watcher, not a player, when my friends play football.
The movie is famous among watchers of classic films.
He is a watcher of the sky at night.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I am a watch of birds"* instead of *"I am a watcher of birds"*. Remember that *watch* is usually a verb or a thing you wear on your wrist, and *watcher* is the noun for a person. Learners also sometimes use *watcher* where *viewer* or *spectator* is more common, for example saying *"TV watcher"* instead of *"TV viewer"*; *watcher* is possible but sounds a bit less standard in these cases.
Meaning
person who watches something
Collocations
bird watcher
|people watcher
|quiet watcher
|watcher of birds
|watcher of people
Synonyms
observer (Slightly more formal and general; often used in written or academic contexts.)
|
onlooker (Suggests someone present at an event but not involved, often where something special is happening.)
Antonyms
participant (A participant is actively involved, while a watcher only looks on.)
Themes
daily life
|leisure
|social
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
A person who looks at something for some time, usually without joining in the action.
A person who looks at or observes something, often for an extended time but without taking part.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a watcher at [a place]
A lone watcher stood at the gate throughout the storm.
Egy magányos őr állt a kapunál a vihar egész ideje alatt.
During the dry season, a fire watcher stays on the tower day and night.
A száraz évszakban éjjel-nappal tűzfigyelő tartózkodik a toronyban.
The bridge watcher reported a crack in the support beam before anyone else noticed.
A team of watchers patrols the border every night.
The company hired a night watcher to check the warehouse after hours.
Learner examples
A night watcher walks around the building when it is dark.
Egy éjjeliőr járőrözik az épület körül, amikor sötét van.
The fire watcher looks for smoke in the forest.
A tűzfigyelő füstöt keres az erdőben.
One watcher stands at the door and checks who comes in.
The border watcher uses cameras to see cars on the road.
They needed a watcher to keep the camp safe.
Common mistake:
Learners may use *watcher* when *guard* or *security guard* is more natural in modern English, for example saying *"He is a watcher at the bank"* instead of *"He is a security guard at the bank"*. *Watcher* in this sense is more limited and often used with a specific noun, like *"fire watcher"* or *"border watcher"*.
Meaning
guard or lookout on watch
Collocations
night watcher
|bridge watcher
|fire watcher
|border watcher
|station watcher
Synonyms
lookout (Often used in military, security, or crime contexts; stresses the act of watching for danger.)
|
guard (More common for someone protecting a place or person; can include duties beyond just watching.)
Antonyms
intruder (The intruder is the person the watcher is trying to notice and stop, making it an opposite role.)
Themes
work
|safety
|security
|law
Definition
A person who must look carefully for danger or problems as their work or duty.
A person whose job or duty is to stay alert and watch for danger, trouble, or unwanted activity.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[a/an] [topic] watcher
Market watchers expect interest rates to rise again this year.
A piaci elemzők arra számítanak, hogy idén ismét emelkednek a kamatok.
Royal watchers were excited by the surprise announcement from the palace.
A királyi család életét figyelemmel kísérők izgatottak lettek a palota váratlan bejelentésétől.
Weather watchers say this may be the driest summer in decades.
Election watchers are warning that turnout could be very low.
Tech watchers predict that smaller AI tools will become more popular.
Learner examples
Many market watchers think prices will go up.
Sok piaci elemző úgy gondolja, hogy az árak emelkedni fognak.
Royal watchers read every story about the king and queen.
A királyi család életét figyelemmel kísérők minden cikket elolvasnak a királyról és a királynőről.
Weather watchers say it will be a very hot week.
Political watchers follow every speech by the president.
Sports watchers knew the team would win again.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes translate directly from their language and say phrases like *"news watcher"* in situations where English would simply say *"journalist"* or *"reporter"*. Also, *watcher* in this sense is usually used with a specific noun before it (like *market*, *royal*, *weather*); using it alone as *"I am a watcher"* will sound vague or odd in this meaning.
Meaning
person who closely follows a topic
Collocations
market watcher
|royal watcher
|weather watcher
|political watcher
|election watcher
Synonyms
analyst (Often used in business or politics for someone who studies data and gives expert opinions.)
|
commentator (Emphasizes giving opinions in public, especially on TV, radio, or online.)
Antonyms
outsider (An outsider is not closely involved with or informed about the topic, unlike a watcher.)
Themes
media
|business
|politics
|education
|communication
Definition
A person who reads and studies a lot about one topic, like markets, weather, or politics.
A person, often an expert, who closely follows and studies news and details about a particular subject or field.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
figyelő
C1
Usage pattern:
[a/the] Watcher watches [someone/something]
Legends say a silent Watcher guards the valley from the mountains above.
A legendák szerint egy néma Figyelő őrzi a völgyet a hegyek magasából.
The children felt the eyes of an unseen watcher as they crossed the dark field.
A gyerekek egy láthatatlan figyelő tekintetét érezték magukon, miközben átkeltek a sötét mezőn.
In the story, ancient Watchers record every choice humans make.
She prayed that the heavenly watchers were looking kindly on her village.
The Watchers had sworn never to interfere, only to observe.
Learner examples
In this book, a watcher in the sky looks down on the city.
Ebben a könyvben egy égi figyelő néz le a városra.
The hero feels a watcher in the dark forest.
A hős egy figyelő jelenlétét érzi a sötét erdőben.
Old stories say a watcher protects the town.
The movie shows watchers who see everything on Earth.
The people are afraid of the watchers in the tower.
Meaning
supernatural being that watches
Collocations
the Watchers
|ancient Watcher
|unseen watcher
|silent watcher
|celestial watcher
Synonyms
guardian (Often suggests protection, while *watcher* can be more neutral or mysterious.)
|
sentinel (Literary; a guard standing watch, sometimes used for supernatural beings.)
Antonyms
mortal (In fantasy or religious contexts, mortals are ordinary humans, not powerful watching beings.)
Themes
fiction
|religion
|fantasy
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A strange or powerful being in stories that watches people or the world.
A supernatural, mysterious, or otherworldly being that silently observes people or events, especially in fiction or religious stories.
Grammar
Dictionary form
watcher
IPA
GB/wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/
US/wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
watch - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (watch)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: watcher
- Plural: watchers
Word family
Expressions
bird watcher
1/bˈɚd wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
person who watches birds for pleasure
A person who enjoys looking at birds and often writes down or studies what they see.
Examples
- The park is popular with bird watchers in the early morning.
- As a bird watcher, she always carries binoculars and a small notebook.
market watcher
1/mˈɑɹkɪt wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
expert who follows financial markets
A person, often an expert, who studies financial markets and gives ideas about what may happen next.
Examples
- Market watchers are predicting another drop in tech stocks.
- Many market watchers say the currency is now overvalued.
people watcher
1/pˈipəl wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
person who enjoys watching people
A person who likes to sit in public places and look at how other people act and move.
Examples
- He calls himself a people watcher and loves sitting in busy cafés.
- If you’re a people watcher, this square is the perfect place to relax.
royal watcher
1/ɹˈɔɪəl wˈɔt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
person who follows royal family news
A person who pays close attention to the lives and news of a royal family.
Examples
- Royal watchers were surprised by the couple’s sudden move abroad.
- As a royal watcher, she knows every detail of the king’s public life.