vigilar

to watch over

verb bee-hee-LAHR Less Common

Also means

to monitor

Usage Note

Vigilar means to keep watch over someone or something: vigilar a un sospechoso, vigilar la frontera. In Spain vigilante de seguridad is a security guard. The noun vigilancia means surveillance or watchfulness. Unlike English 'to be vigilant,' vigilar is transitive and takes an object.

Examples

"El guardia vigilaba la entrada del edificio."

Natural Translation

The guard was watching over the building entrance.

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