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watch out

A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

Be careful! Pay attention so nothing bad happens to you.

Literal meaning: To direct your eyes outward and be watchful — closely mirrors the figurative meaning.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

Used as a warning to tell someone to be careful or to avoid an immediate danger.

"Watch out! There's a car coming around the corner."

"You better watch out, you better not cry."

— "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", popular Christmas song (Haven Gillespie, 1934)
Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 neutral

To be on guard or alert for a particular danger, problem, or person (usually followed by 'for').

"Watch out for scams when shopping online."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

Used as a general caution that someone or something should be taken seriously or not underestimated.

"Watch out — she's a tough negotiator."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very common as an exclamation or imperative warning. When followed by 'for', it means to be alert to a specific threat (e.g., 'watch out for pickpockets'). Universal across all English-speaking regions.

Commonly used with

for danger cars pickpockets trouble ice

Forms

Base
watch out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
watches out
he/she/it
Past simple
watched out
yesterday
Past participle
watched out
have + pp
-ing form
watching out
continuous

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Synonyms

be careful be on guard beware look out mind out stay alert

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