babysits
/ˈbeɪbisɪts/
VERB
1. To care for and supervise children temporarily
To take responsibility for watching, protecting, and caring for someone else's child for a limited period, usually while the parents or regular caregivers are away.
1.1. Childcare and temporary supervision
Used when someone temporarily looks after another person's children, ensuring their safety, attending to their needs, and supervising their activities while their parents are absent.
Synonyms
- minds
- watches
- attends
- tends
- chaperones
- chaperons
- looks after
- cares for
- takes care of
- mothers
Antonyms
Examples
- She babysits her neighbor's children every Friday evening.
- The teenager babysits her younger siblings while their parents are at work.
- My sister babysits for several families in the neighborhood.
- He regularly babysits his grandchildren when their parents need assistance.
Related Words
- babysitter
- childcare
- childminder
- nanny
- caregiver
- guardian
- supervision
- parenting
- child-rearing
- daycare
VERB
2. To supervise or assist someone excessively
To watch, manage, or attend to someone or something with unnecessary closeness, often providing excessive assistance, guidance, or control when independent action would be appropriate.
2.1. Micromanagement and excessive supervision
Used figuratively when someone constantly monitors, directs, or controls another person's activities instead of allowing them to work or make decisions independently.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
- The manager babysits every employee throughout the project instead of allowing them to work independently.
- The supervisor babysits the experienced team and constantly checks their progress.
- He babysits the entire operation because he does not trust his assistants to make decisions.
Related Words
- micromanagement
- oversight
- monitoring
- interference
- overprotection
- supervision
- autonomy
- independence
- self-management
2.2. Excessive assistance and hand-holding
Used when someone repeatedly guides, encourages, or coaxes another person through tasks that they should reasonably be able to handle independently.
Synonyms
- guides
- directs
- attends
- minds
- mothers
- manages
- supervises
Antonyms
Examples
- The teacher babysits students who refuse to complete their assignments without constant encouragement.
- She babysits the new employee through every step of the routine process.
- The project leader babysits team members who are capable of handling their own responsibilities.
Related Words
- hand-holding
- coaxing
- assistance
- dependency
- incompetence
- initiative
- self-reliance
- responsibility