How to Use watchful in a Sentence

watchful

adjective
  • We need to be more watchful of our children.
  • The hotel is being built under the watchful eye of its architect.
  • Danae kept a watchful eye over the young ones.
    — David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Doctors kept a watchful eye on the rest of that leg.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Tenzin, our guide, keeps a watchful eye on me.
    — Shunali Khullar Shroff, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2025
  • My job was to keep a watchful eye on the soup and stir it often.
    — Carolyn Hall, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2022
  • Well, the king keeps a very watchful eye over his liquor supply, my lord.
    — Allison P. Davis, The Cut, 18 Apr. 2018
  • As the cub wandered away, its mother looked on with a watchful eye.
    — Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
  • Patience and a watchful eye on the caramel are crucial.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
  • Paul is keeping a watchful eye over all of us with Nolan at this side.
    — Lilly Price, baltimoresun.com, 2 Feb. 2022
  • Somewhere within a few yards the bear stood silent and watchful.
    — Field & Stream, 12 Dec. 2020
  • But that doesn’t mean James doesn’t keep a caring, watchful eye.
    — Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2022
  • This network, which has grown since the summer, keeps a watchful eye.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Since then, the country has kept a watchful eye to see if any new cases would pop up.
    — Popular Science, 8 June 2020
  • Keep a watchful eye on the vehicle’s tires.
    — Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Be watchful that those part-of-the-process aches and pains don’t turn into injuries.
    — Luke Humphrey, Outside Online, 21 Sep. 2020
  • Adjust the heat to low and keep a watchful eye, to avoid burning the butter.
    — The View, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024
  • But the senior royals of today still keep a watchful eye on their guests.
    — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
  • From birth, Matthew was mellow yet watchful in the way of a sage elder.
    — M. Boone Mattia, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2020
  • For now, experts say gardeners should be watchful and take care of the soil.
    — Nushin Huq, Chron, 27 Apr. 2021
  • With a small team, there is no hiding under the watchful eyes of the three coaches.
    — Emmett Hall, sun-sentinel.com, 13 May 2021
  • The service Staff are kind but watchful, and always at the ready.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
  • In the backyard, dozens of deer congregate in a creepy, watchful herd.
    — Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
  • Without Jewell’s watchful eye, the tragedy could have been many times worse.
    — Alejandro De La Garza, Time, 13 Dec. 2019
  • Firefighters stayed on the scene for hours to keep a watchful eye on the house where the fire started.
    — oregonlive, 1 Nov. 2022
  • Woody was in his late 30s, a high school dropout with watchful blue eyes and a rough, mumbly patter.
    — Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2021
  • Be watchful of ponding on roadways.
    — Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Janey was ten then, fair and watchful; Ted, eleven, dark hair curling to his collar.
    — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
  • In the dance studio, Pierce-Sands had a watchful eye, a wry smile and a loud voice.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 5 Dec. 2025
  • Keep a watchful eye and stay on top of pruning to avoid losing out on the tastiest flavor.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 15 May 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'watchful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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