phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb
watch over
to protect or supervise
What it means
To protect, guard, or carefully supervise someone or something to keep them safe. It often suggests a quiet, caring kind of attention rather than active control.
Examples
- The nurse watched over the sleeping patient throughout the night.
- She believes her grandmother is watching over her from above.
- A friendly dog watched over the children as they played in the garden.
- Security cameras watch over the building twenty-four hours a day.
Where it comes from
Inseparable. Slightly more formal or literary in tone than 'look after'; often used in spiritual or protective contexts.
Related phrasal verbs
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