Guard — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈgärd/

Meaning & Definition of Guard

Guard (noun)

  1. one assigned to watch someone or something to provide security or prevent escape
  2. a person or a body of persons on sentinel duty
  3. troops assigned to protect a monarch

Guard (verb)

  1. to protect from danger especially by watchful attention, make secure
  2. to stand at the entrance of as if on guard or as a barrier
  3. to tend to carefully, preserve, protect

Guard (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person or group that watches over someone or something

    "checked in with the security guard at the gate"

    similar: custodian, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman
    related: observer, patrol, spotter, surveillant, watchdog, bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, honor guard, gatekeeper, hack (slang)

  2. a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack

    "be on your guard against snakes in the swamp"

    similar: defensive
    related: alert, lookout, qui vive, watch
    opposite: offensive

  3. a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation

    "slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain"

    similar: safety
    related: fail-safe, lock, defense, protection, safeguard, shield

  4. means or method of defending

    "the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard"

    similar: aegis, ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, defense, protection, safeguard, screen, security, shield, wall, ward
    related: arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry, fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold
    near: aggression, assault, attack, offense, offensive

  5. one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy

    "the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps"

    similar: attendant, companion, escort, guide
    related: chaperone, squire, shadow, sidekick, conductor, leader, pilot, convoy, courier, honor guard, outrider

  6. someone that protects

    "a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity"

    similar: custodian, defender, guardian, guardian angel, protection, protector
    related: bodyguard, champion, lookout, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watchdog, watchman, conserver, harborer, keeper, preserver, saver

Guard (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to drive danger or attack away from

    "guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked"

    similar: bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward, stand up for
    related: avert, prevent, oppose, resist, withstand, battle, contend, fight, war, conserve, preserve, save, buffer, palisade, picket, wall
    opposite: assail, assault, attack
    near: bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield

  2. to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point

    "a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle"

    similar: bar, barricade, block (off), blockade, close (off), wall (off)
    related: curtain (off), screen (off), dike, fence, gate, hedge, bolt, lock, obstruct
    opposite: open, unbar
    near: reopen, unblock, unbolt

Related Entry: Guard (against) (verb)

Guard (against) is a different word from Guard. The synonyms below are for guard (against), not for guard.

  1. to be cautious of or on guard against

    "unfortunately, you have to guard against theft while you're traveling"

    similar: beware (of), look out (for), mind, ware, watch out (for), be on the lookout for, keep one's eyes open for
    related: attend, heed, mark, note, notice, behold, discern, observe, perceive, see, watch
    near: discount, disregard, ignore, miss, overlook

Related Entry: Old guard (noun)

Old guard is a different word from Guard. The synonyms below are for old guard, not for guard.

  1. the usually older members of an organization (such as a political party) who do not want or like change

    "She's not popular with the old guard."

    similar: establishment, big(s), big league(s), big time, major league

Related Entry: On guard (phrase)

On guard is a different word from Guard. The synonyms below are for on guard, not for guard.

  1. paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity

    "Since it was hunting season, we wore brightly colored vests and remained on guard while hiking."

    similar: alert, Argus-eyed, attentive, awake, observant, open-eyed, tenty (Scottish), vigilant, watchful, wide-awake, on one's toes, on the alert, on the ball, on the qui vive, on tiptoe
    related: alive, aware, conscious, sensitive, cognizant, heedful, keen, mindful, observing, regardful, sharp, sharp-eyed, hyperalert, hypervigilant, sleepless, wakeful, careful, cautious, chary, wary, prepared, ready
    opposite: asleep
    near: absent, absentminded, absorbed, abstracted, daydreaming, dazed, distracted, dreaming, dreamy, engrossed, faraway, insensible, oblivious, preoccupied, sleeping, unaware, unconscious, unknowing, unwitting, careless, heedless, inattentive, unheeding, unmindful, unthinking, unwary, unprepared, unready

Related Entry: Honor guard (noun)

Honor guard is a different word from Guard. The synonyms below are for honor guard, not for guard.

  1. as in defender, escort

    similar: bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, custodian, guard, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman, observer, patrol, spotter, surveillant, watchdog, gatekeeper, hack (slang)

Related Entry: National guard (noun)

National guard is a different word from Guard. The synonyms below are for national guard, not for guard.

  1. as in militia, standing army

    similar: militia, standing army, army, array, battalion, host, legion, infantry, ranks, regulars, soldiers, troopers, troops

Related Entry: Rear guard (noun)

Rear guard is a different word from Guard. The synonyms below are for rear guard, not for guard.

  1. as in patrol, firing squad

    similar: commando, firing squad, outpost, paratroops, patrol, picket, sentry, watch, detachment, detail, battalion, command, company, corps, division, platoon, regiment, squad, squadron, troop, wing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Guard

The most common words with a similar meaning to Guard:

custodian, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman, defensive, safety, aegis, ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, defense, protection, safeguard, screen, security, shield, wall, ward, attendant, companion, escort, guide, defender, guardian angel, protector, bulwark, defend, fence, fend, forfend

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Guard

Words with the opposite meaning of Guard:

offensive, assail, assault, attack, open, unbar

Related Words for Guard

observer, patrol, spotter, surveillant, watchdog, bodyguard, convoy, honor guard, gatekeeper, hack, alert, qui vive, fail-safe, lock, arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry, fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold, chaperone, squire, shadow, sidekick, conductor, leader

Near Antonyms of Guard

aggression, offense, bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield, reopen, unblock, unbolt

Word Forms of Guard

Inflections: guarded, guarding, guards

Derived words: guarder (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Guard

Middle English garde, from Anglo-French garde, guarde, warde, from garder, guarder, warder, to guard, defend, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wartēn to watch, take care ward

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Guard

Words & Phrases Containing Guard

guard cell, guard hair, guard of honor, guard against, guard dog, guard's van, cattle guard, coast guard

Frequently Asked Questions about Guard

What does "Guard" mean?

"Guard" means one assigned to watch someone or something to provide security or prevent escape. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: one assigned to watch someone or something to provide security or prevent escape. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Guard"?

Other words for "Guard" include custodian, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel and sentry. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Guard" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Guard"?

There are 108 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Guard". Common alternatives include custodian, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden and warder.

What is the opposite of "Guard"?

Antonyms of "Guard" include offensive, assail, assault, attack, open and unbar. Near antonyms include aggression, offense, bombard and storm.

How do you use "Guard" in a sentence?

Examples of "Guard" in a sentence: "checked in with the security guard at the gate"; "be on your guard against snakes in the swamp"; "slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain".

Is "Guard" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Guard" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Guard" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Guard" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Guard"?

"Guard" is pronounced /ˈgärd/.