1. (

• watchfulness ,
• wakefulness ,
• vigilance ,
• alertness

) the process of paying close and continuous attention; "wakefulness, watchfulness, and bellicosity make a good hunter"; "vigilance is especially susceptible to fatigue" ;

2. (

• alertness ,
• alerting

) a state of readiness to respond; "alerting was indicated by the desynchronization of the EEG" ;

3. (

• alertness ,
• sharp-sightedness ,
• on_the_qui_vive

) lively attentiveness ;