Cool MateLook at 'em vs Watch
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Look at 'em
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Watch
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: WatchMost common: Watch
| Look at 'em | Watch | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lʊk æt ɛm//🇺🇸 //lʊk æt əm// | 🇬🇧 /["/wɒtʃ/","/ˈwɒtʃɪz/","/wɒtʃt/","/ˈwɒtʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɑːtʃ/","/ˈwɑːtʃɪz/","/wɑːtʃt/","/ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To see a group of people or things. | To look at something for a period of time. |
| Example | Look at 'em over there by the fountain! | I love to watch movies on the weekends. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | look at 'em funny, look at 'em with surprise, look at 'em closely | carefully, closely, attentively, could only, continue to, pause to, for, from, in, sit and watch, stand and watch, watch and wait |
| Antonyms | - | ignore, overlook, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Using 'look at them' in casual conversation instead of 'look at 'em'., Confusion with 'look at it' for singular objects instead of plural contexts., Not using the contraction 'em' when speaking informally. | 'Watched' vs 'watching': confusing past and present forms., 'Watch' is not used with 'something': saying 'watch something' instead of just 'watch'., Using 'watch' for inanimate objects like books, instead of 'read'. |
| Usage notes | 'Look at 'em' is casual and typically used in spoken English among friends. It's not formal language and would not be suitable in professional contexts. | Used for looking at moving images or events. More formal contexts may use 'view' instead, while 'watch' is appropriate in casual conversations. Avoid using in highly formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Look at 'em vs Watch
What's the difference between Look at 'em and Watch?
Look at 'em: To see a group of people or things. Watch: To look at something for a period of time.
Which is more formal: Look at 'em and Watch?
Watch is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Look at 'em and Watch?
Watch is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Look at 'em: Look at 'em over there by the fountain! Watch: I love to watch movies on the weekends.
Can I use Look at 'em and Watch interchangeably?
Not always. Look at 'em and Watch are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.