guard

guardverb

To guard is to watch or keep something carefully so that nothing bad happens to it or because of it.

1. protectwatch a person or a place carefully so that no one can attack, harm, or enter it

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Two soldiers guard the gate day and night. V + obj
   • The building is guarded by security officers. V + obj (passive)
   • A big dog guards the farm. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun guard a building, guard the entrance, guard the border

   phrase be heavily guarded, be closely guarded

   Synonyms protect; defend

   1. awatch a person so that they cannot escape

      transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

      • Four police officers guarded the prisoners. V + obj
      • The men were guarded day and night. V + obj

      Collocations

      verb + noun guard a prisoner

2. keep secret or safekeep something safe so that it is not lost, taken, or known by others

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • She guards her privacy very carefully. V + obj
   • The family has guarded the recipe for years. V + obj
   • He guarded his reputation all his life. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun guard a secret, guard your privacy, guard your reputation

   adverb + verb jealously guard something, carefully guard something

3. preventtry to stop something bad from happening

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • Wash your hands often to guard against infection. V + prep + obj
   • We need to guard against making the same mistake again. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition guard against something, guard against doing something

   Synonyms prevent

4. in sportsstay close to a player on the other team to stop them from getting the ball or scoring

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] sport

   • Sam's job is to guard their best player. V + obj
   • She was closely guarded for the whole game. V + obj (passive)

   Collocations

   verb + noun guard a player

   Synonyms mark