vigilant

adjective

vig·​i·​lant ˈvi-jə-lənt How to pronounce vigilant (audio)
: alertly watchful especially to avoid danger
vigilantly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for vigilant

watchful, vigilant, wide-awake, alert mean being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity.

watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers.

wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology

alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

Examples of vigilant in a Sentence

Over the years, as tension between pitchers and hit batsmen heightened to the point that hitters began rushing the mound, umpires have had to become far more vigilant about keeping the game from degenerating into a dogfight. Buzz Bissinger, Sports Illustrated, 21 Mar. 2005
At the Château de Wideville's magnificent seventeenth-century gates, guests have their names ticked off by vigilant staff and then snake through a lugubrious park à l'anglaise. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, September 2002
And as a foreign tourist in North Korea, under the care of vigilant minders who wanted me to see only the best, I had enjoyed the finest fare available. Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair, January 2001
A vigilant hand had, as usual, kept the fire alive and the lamp trimmed; and the room, with its rows and rows of books, its bronze and steel statuettes of "The Fencers" on the mantelpiece and its many photographs of famous pictures, looked singularly home-like and welcoming. Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence, 1920
When traveling through the city, tourists should be extra vigilant. They were vigilant about protecting their children. We remain vigilant against theft.
Recent Examples on the Web In the wake of the robbery, police urged residents to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Just make sure to drive defensively and be vigilant — and stay on the lookout for motorbikes. Mya Guarnieri, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 That seems a perfectly reasonable goal to us — and surely to even the most vigilant of parents who can’t hover over every child every minute of the day in a world linked to the internet by laptops, cellphones, watches and tablets at home, at school, at friends’ homes, and on and on. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2024 Singles seeking love online this Valentine’s Day are cautioned to be extra vigilant about romance scammers who create fake profiles to deceive and solicit money from unsuspecting individuals. Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 7 Feb. 2024 Instances of fraudulent emails attempting to redirect payments highlight the need for a vigilant approach, ensuring that companies do not fall prey to scams that could lead to irreversible financial consequences. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 Palmer hypothesizes that Buffalo are less vigilant than zebras, and so might be spending more time in less open areas of the savannah, but follow-up research is needed to further explore this theory and to assess if the buffalo population is changing amid the new pressure of lion predation. Popular Science, 25 Jan. 2024 These challenges necessitate a vigilant and prepared leadership, capable of navigating through the uncertainties with strategic foresight and resilience. Soulaima Gourani, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 To achieve a happy, fraud-free new year, remain vigilant, listen to your instincts, and learn to spot red flags. Michael Steinbach, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots), from Latin vigilant-, vigilans, from present participle of vigilare to keep watch, stay awake, from vigil awake

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vigilant was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near vigilant

Cite this Entry

“Vigilant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigilant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vigilant

adjective
vig·​i·​lant ˈvij-ə-lənt How to pronounce vigilant (audio)
: alert to signs of danger
vigilantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on vigilant

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