Other forms: watchers
A watcher is somebody who observes closely. A silent watcher, bird watchers, a watcher on the wall.
The word implies patience and no part in what is happening, which is why it suits sentries, birdwatchers and ghosts alike. In broadcasting the audience is viewers rather than watchers, and the distinction is habit rather than logic.
1nounwatcherSomebody who observes closely.
“A silent watcher stood at the window, following our every move.”
watcher is an observer.
Watch plus -er, from Old English waeccan, to be awake. Wake and vigil are relatives.
Middle English
wacchere
English, today
watcher
From Middle English wacchere, wachere, wacher, equivalent to watch + er.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA