Distinguishing Between Watching & Looking

Watch vs Look

The English language often uses “look” and “watch” as synonyms, even though there is a difference between the two words. Both words are primarily used as verbs. “Watch” is used to mean “observe,” while “look” is used to mean “gaze” or “stare.” Understanding the usage and meaning of each word will help to clarify the distinction between them.

Key Takeaways

• The verb “watch” is used in the sense of “observe,” while the verb “look” is used in the sense of “gaze” or “stare.”
• “Look” is sometimes used in the sense of “appear.”
• The past participle form of “watch” is “watched,” and the past participle form of “look” is “looked.”

What does Watch mean?

The verb “watch” is used when referring to observing something. For example, in the sentences “Francis watches his brother do the work” and “Angela watches her sister do the homework,” the verb “watch” is used in the sense of “observe.” The past participle form of “watch” is “watched.” The verb “watch” also has an abstract noun form, “watching.”

“Watch” is sometimes used in hyphenated words, such as “bird-watcher” or “watch-dog.” Additionally, “watch” can be used to indicate a time-keeping device, as in the sentence “Francis looked at his watch.”

What does Look mean?

The verb “look” is used in the sense of gazing or staring at something. In the sentences “She looked at him and said” and “Lucy looks at her son with affection,” the verb “look” is used in the sense of “gaze” or “stare.”

“Look” can also be used in the sense of “appear,” as in the sentences “She looks very beautiful” and “Angela looks gorgeous in her new dress.” The past participle form of “look” is “looked.” Unlike “watch,” the verb “look” does not have an abstract noun form. However, it does have a noun form in the word “looker.”

“Look” can also be used as a noun in sentences like “Her looks were beautiful” and “His looks were deceptive.”

What is the difference between Watch and Look?

• The verb “watch” is used in the sense of “observe,” whereas the verb “look” is used in the sense of “gaze” or “stare.”
• The verb “look” is sometimes used in the sense of “appear.”
• The past participle form of the verb “look” is “looked,” and the past participle form of the verb “watch” is “watched.”
• The verb “watch” has its abstract noun form in the word “watching.” “Look” does not have an abstract noun form.
• “Look” is sometimes used as a noun in sentences.
• The verb “watch” is sometimes used in hyphenated words such as “bird-watcher,” “watch-dog,” and the like.