Guard

/ɡɑːd/ name, noun, verb

name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A person who, or thing that, protects or watches over something.
  • Grammar: guard is listed as name, noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: precaution, safeguard, accompany, advance guard.
  • Useful contrasts: allow, cause, criminal.
  • Usage evidence: It caught me off guard; I didn't know what to do.

How to use "guard"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "guard" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "guard" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "guard" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "guard" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "guard" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "precaution" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "guard", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A person who, or thing that, protects or watches over something.

    "The prison guard unlocked the door of the cell. After completing the repairs, he replaced the sump guard."

  2. 2
    a position on a basketball team wordnet
  3. 3
    A garda; a police officer. Ireland

    "The Garda Regulations 1924 required a candidate for appointment as a guard to be able to produce satisfactory references as to his character"

  4. 4
    (American football) a position on the line of scrimmage between the center and the tackles wordnet
  5. 5
    A squad responsible for protecting something.

    "The president inspected the guard of honour."

Show 24 more definitions
  1. 6
    the duty of serving as a sentry wordnet
  2. 7
    A squad responsible for protecting something.; An elite military unit in Russia, the former Soviet Union and several post-Soviet countries. in-plural, often
  3. 8
    a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc. wordnet
  4. 9
    The part of a sword that protects the wielder's hand.

    "Holonym: hilt"

  5. 10
    a device designed to prevent injury or accidents wordnet
  6. 11
    A part of a machine which blocks access to dangerous parts.

    "The motorcycle mechanic removed the damaged chain guard."

  7. 12
    a posture of defence in boxing or fencing wordnet
  8. 13
    A watchchain.
  9. 14
    a military unit serving to protect some place or person wordnet
  10. 15
    A panel of a car that encloses the wheel area, especially the front wheels. Australia

    "Another possible way is to go for a lower profile tyre (50 series). This effectively lowers the distance of the tyre wall away from the guard (not by much though and generally, the lower the profile, the wider the tyre so the tyre may stick out more as well)."

  11. 16
    the person who lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team on the line of scrimmage wordnet
  12. 17
    A state of caution; posture of defence. uncountable
  13. 18
    a person who keeps watch over something or someone wordnet
  14. 19
    Something worn to protect part of the body, e.g. the shins in cricket.
  15. 20
    the person who plays the position of guard on a basketball team wordnet
  16. 21
    A relatively short player, playing farther from the basket than a forward or centre.
  17. 22
    a soldier who is a member of a unit called ‘the guard’ or ‘guards’ wordnet
  18. 23
    The position on the popping crease where a batsman makes a mark to align himself with the wicket; see take guard.
  19. 24
    Either of two offensive positions between the centre and each of the offensive tackles, whose main responsibilities are to protect the quarterback, and open up "holes" through which offensive players can run.
  20. 25
    A ground grappling position in which one combatant has their back to the ground while attempting to control the other combatant using their legs.
  21. 26
    A player playing a position named guard.
  22. 27
    An employee, normally travelling in the last vehicle of a train, responsible for the safety of the train.

    "When an engineer wished to stop a swiftly moving train he had first to whistle to the guard requesting him to apply the hand-brake of the van, and then apply the hand-brake of the engine. Guards did not always hear."

  23. 28
    A Boolean expression that must evaluate to true for a branch of program execution to continue.
  24. 29
    The aircraft emergency frequency, a radio frequency reserved for emergency communications, typically 121.5MHz for civilian use.
Verb
  1. 1
    To protect from danger; to secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend. transitive

    "For Heaven still guards the right."

  2. 2
    watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect wordnet
  3. 3
    To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like. transitive

    "Guard the prisoner."

  4. 4
    protect against a challenge or attack wordnet
  5. 5
    To watch by way of caution or defense; to be cautious; to be in a state or position of defense or safety. ambitransitive

    "Careful people guard against mistakes."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    to keep watch over wordnet
  2. 7
    To protect the edge of, especially with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc. transitive

    "The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on neither."

  3. 8
    take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence wordnet
  4. 9
    To fasten by binding; to gird. transitive
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.

    "Please deliver this package to Mr Guard."

  2. 2
    Ellipsis of the proper name of any of various specific services called the National Guard, the Republican Guard, and so on. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

    "I was 19 when I joined the Guard. The Guard provides a small pension to members who retire with enough years of service."

Synonyms

All synonyms
precautionsafeguardaccompanyadvance guardadvocateaegis

Example

"It caught me off guard; I didn't know what to do."

Common questions

What does "guard" mean?

A person who, or thing that, protects or watches over something.

What is a synonym for "guard"?

Common synonyms include: precaution, safeguard, accompany, advance guard, advocate, aegis.

How do you use "guard" in a sentence?

It caught me off guard; I didn't know what to do.

How do you pronounce "guard"?

Pronounced /ɡɑːd/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English garde, from early Middle French or late Old French guarde (“a guardian, warden, keeper”) (whence modern French garde), from the verb guarder. Doublet of garda, which is from Irish.

Etymology 2

From early Middle French garder or late Old French (circa 14th cent) guarder (“to keep, ward, guard, save, preserve, etc.”), from Early Medieval Latin wardo, from Frankish *wardēn, from Proto-Germanic *wardāną (“to guard, protect”). Cognate with French garder, Old English weardian (whence also the English inherited doublet ward). See also English regard.

Etymology 3

The surname sense is an occupational surname for a watchman, from guard. The organization sense is likewise a type of proprialization from guard.

More for "guard"

Synonyms

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