vigilantvig‧i‧lant /ˈvɪdʒələnt/ adjective 
Please remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious.—vigilantly adverbRegisterIn everyday English, people usually use the expression watch out rather than be vigilant:· We were told to watch out for anything suspicious.
WORD ORIGINvigilant
Origin:
1400-1500 Latin present participle of vigilare ‘to stay awake, keep watch’, from vigil; ➔ VIGILEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Be vigilant on public transport and at tourist sites, as pickpockets operate in these areas.
- The terrorist threat is still real, and the public should remain vigilant.
- To combat thieves, it is important for staff to be vigilant at all times.
- Travelers in foreign countries are reminded to be vigilant at all times.
- We have to be vigilant about protecting our right to privacy.
- We must be ever vigilant. Don't think that Fascism can never rise again. It can.
- Abdullahi was a small, slender, restless man with quick, vigilant eyes and an engagingly ugly face.
- But Travis McKenna had put paid to that by being particularly vigilant.
- I suspect many parents are vigilant that their children not interrupt others, and surely this is worth attending to.
- She had to be particularly vigilant when it came to the large amounts of water threatening them at every turn.
- There had been a rash of petty thefts in the hotel and we were all warned to be vigilant.
Longman Language Activatorcareful to avoid risks or danger
someone who is careful tries to avoid danger, risks, or accidents: · You'll be OK with Jane - she's a very careful driver.· Paints today are getting safer as companies remove harmful chemicals, but you still need to be careful.careful (that): · We had to be careful that we didn't tip the raft over.
someone who is cautious does not like taking risks and is always very careful to avoid them: · If we're too cautious, we might lose a good business opportunity.· Phil's a very cautious driver - it'll take at least an hour to get there.cautious about: · I've always been cautious about giving people my phone number.
if you do something with care or with caution , you do it carefully in order to avoid accidents: · Some roads may be icy and motorists are advised to drive with caution.handle something with care: · These antiques are fragile and must be handled with care.
someone who is wary does not easily trust people and thinks very carefully before getting involved in any situation that might be dangerous or cause problems: wary of: · She had become extremely wary of relationships as a result of her childhood experiences.· Wary of becoming entangled in her friend's family quarrels, Eileen made an excuse and left.wary about: · The problems with selling the house had made her much more wary about financial matters.keep a wary eye on somebody/something (=watch something or someone carefully): · One of the guards was fiddling with his radio, all the time keeping a wary eye on the five prisoners.
formal always paying attention to what is happening, so that you notice any danger or illegal activity: · Be vigilant on public transport and at tourist sites, as pickpockets operate in these areas.vigilant about: · We have to be vigilant about protecting our right to privacy.remain vigilant: · The terrorist threat is still real, and the public should remain vigilant.ever vigilant (=always vigilant): · We must be ever vigilant. Don't think that Fascism can never rise again. It can.
always watching to see what happens someone who is alert is always watching, and notices if anything strange or unusual happens: · Passengers should try to stay alert at all times, and report any suspicious packages to the police immediately.· She owes her life to an alert farmer, who spotted her car in a ditch and called the emergency services.
to watch carefully because you think that something bad might happen: · We ask you all to be on the alert and to report anything suspicious immediately.be on the alert for: · Staff have been warned to be on the alert for bombs.
spoken say this to tell someone to keep watching carefully so that they will see something that they are hoping or expecting to see: · We might see a dolphin if we're lucky, so keep your eyes open.keep your eyes open/peeled for: · I always keep my eyes open for discounts and special offers.· Keep your eyes peeled for Robert - he should be here any minute.
to keep watching so that you will notice someone or something: · Look out for the old college buildings on your left.· We had to watch out for potholes in the road.
always watching to see what happens, either to make sure that nothing bad happens, or simply because you are interested: · The fans left the ground quietly, under the watchful gaze of security cameras.· Alan became more watchful and uneasy as the evening went on.keep a watchful eye on (=keep watching someone to make sure they do not get into trouble, hurt themselves etc): · Bill was in the kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the children as he prepared lunch.
someone who is vigilant is always watching to see what happens, especially to see if anyone is doing anything wrong or illegal: · To combat thieves, it is important for staff to be vigilant at all times.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Please remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
giving careful attention to what is happening, so that you will notice any danger or illegal activity: Please remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious.· The merry mask slipped, his eyes became more vigilant.· Offenders are being caught sooner because the community is more vigilant.· The bank says it has learned its lesson, and will be more vigilant about the way its money is used.· If this is true we might expect paired males to be more vigilant than bachelor males.
Please remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious.—vigilantly adverbRegisterIn everyday English, people usually use the expression watch out rather than be vigilant:· We were told to watch out for anything suspicious.