OpenSynonym

babysitting

/ˈbeɪbiˌsɪtɪŋ/

VERB

1. Temporarily caring for and supervising children

The activity of looking after and supervising someone else's child for a limited period, usually while the child's parents or regular caregivers are away.

1.1. Childcare and temporary supervision

Used when someone takes temporary responsibility for caring for children, ensuring their safety, attending to their needs, and supervising their activities while their parents are absent.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The responsible teenager earned extra money by babysitting for families in the neighborhood.
  • The couple enjoyed a peaceful evening out thanks to the reliable neighbor who offered to do the babysitting.
  • The community center organized a workshop on safe and effective babysitting techniques for teenagers.
  • Despite the challenges, she found joy in the rewarding experience of babysitting adorable toddlers.
  • As the parents attended a wedding, they entrusted the evening babysitting duties to a close family friend.

Related Words

VERB

2. Watching or supervising someone excessively

The act of monitoring, supervising, or attending to someone or something unnecessarily closely, often providing excessive assistance or control.

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

  • overseeing
  • supervising
  • monitoring
  • controlling
  • managing
  • directing
  • governing
  • minding
  • watching

Antonyms

Examples

  • The manager was constantly babysitting the employees instead of allowing them to work independently.
  • The experienced team resented the excessive babysitting by their supervisor.
  • She spent the entire afternoon babysitting the project because she did not trust her assistants to handle it themselves.

Related Words

  • micromanagement
  • oversight
  • interference
  • overprotection
  • management
  • monitoring
  • autonomy
  • independence
  • self-management

2.2. Excessive assistance and hand-holding

Used when someone repeatedly guides, helps, or coaxes another person through tasks that they should reasonably be able to complete independently.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The teacher was tired of babysitting students who refused to complete their assignments without constant encouragement.
  • The new employee required so much guidance that her supervisor felt he was babysitting her throughout the day.
  • The project leader did not want to spend the entire week babysitting team members who could manage their own responsibilities.

Related Words

NOUN

3. The work of temporarily caring for children

The activity or service of providing temporary care and supervision for children in the absence of their parents or usual caregivers.

3.1. Childcare services and babysitting work

Refers to the temporary childcare service or occupation of looking after children, commonly performed by babysitters for families who need assistance while attending to other activities.

Synonyms

  • childcare
  • day care
  • infant care
  • babyminding

Antonyms

Examples

  • The responsible teenager earned extra money by babysitting for families in the neighborhood.
  • The couple enjoyed a peaceful evening out thanks to the reliable neighbor who offered to do the babysitting.
  • The community center organized a workshop on safe and effective babysitting techniques for teenagers.
  • As the parents attended a wedding, they entrusted the evening babysitting duties to a close family friend.

Related Words