When we talk about watching over something, we are expressing the act of monitoring or observing it. There are several synonyms for the phrase "watch over", including oversee, supervise, guard, protect, and look after. To oversee something means to maintain a close watch to make sure things are done correctly. When we supervise, we keep an eye on someone or something to make sure everything stays on course. Guarding something means taking extra precautions to keep it safe from harm. We use the term "protect" when we want to ensure the safety of someone or something. Finally, to "look after" is to take care of and keep under observation.