Vigilant
Keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties; alert and ready to respond.
adjectiveVigilant
Keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties; alert and ready to respond.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a security guard patrolling a museum at night. The guard’s eyes scan every corner, ears perked for any sound, fingers resting on the alarm, always ready to act the moment something seems off.
Sounds Like
VIG-i-luhnt
Looks Like
Looks like the word 'vigil' + 'ant' (a watchful guardian ant).
Remember This
Vigilant comes from the Latin vigilare, to stay awake. A vigilant person embodies constant alertness, not just occasional attention.
Other Forms
Connect With
watchful, alert, attentive, wary, vigilance, surveillance
Note
Avoid confusing with vigilante. Vigilant describes ongoing watchfulness; vigilant implies proactive guarding, while vigilantism involves taking enforcement into one's own hands.
Study Deeper
- Security personnel remained vigilant throughout the night shift, checking doors every few minutes.
- Parents should be vigilant about their children's online activity to protect them from danger.
From Latin vigilans, vigil- 'watchful', from vigilare 'to stay awake, watch'.
VIGILANT = VIGIL + ANT: picture a vigilant ant standing guard with antennae up, always watchful of the colony.
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