French word

guetter

Pronunciation

IPA/gete/

Meaning

  • verbwatch for

Example

Je guette son arrivée à la gare.

I am watching for his arrival at the station.

Illustration for guetter (watch for)

More examples

Elle guette la réaction du public.

She watches for the audience's reaction.

Core concept

A focused watcher stays ready to notice a person, event, or opening as soon as it appears.

Common phrases

  • guetter la réaction

    watch for the reaction

  • guetter une opportunité

    watch for an opportunity

  • guetter le moindre mouvement

    watch for the slightest movement

Similar words

attendre: To remain in a place until someone or something arrives.
surveiller: To keep watching a person or thing to check its condition.
regarder: To look closely to observe someone's actions or something's movement.

Definition in French

Surveiller attentivement quelque chose ou quelqu'un en attendant un signe ou un moment propice.

Word origin

Guetter comes from the Old French noun guet, meaning a watch or guard, and developed into a verb for attentive watching.

Usage tips

  • Guetter takes a direct object, as in guetter son arrivée or guetter une occasion, whereas attendre emphasizes waiting rather than alert observation.

Other meanings

  • watchverb
  • lie in wait for ___verb

Word lists with this word