🇬🇧🇨🇳 surveillance - 监视 : English Lesson

Meaning of "surveillance" ("监视"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

Surveillance means watching a person or place very carefully, usually for a long time, to see what they do. Adults like police, guards, or soldiers often use surveillance—such as cameras, listening devices, or quiet hiding spots—to catch someone who did something wrong or to stop a crime before it happens. It’s like serious, real-life spying to keep people and places safe.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Dad turned on “laundry surveillance” and caught us trying to throw all our clothes under the bed instead of in the basket.

Our cat set up surveillance on the fish tank, then fell asleep on the job and drooled on the glass.

Dad said he had surveillance cameras everywhere, but it was just my sister yelling, “I’m telling Mom!”

The ant colony kept careful surveillance on our dropped crumbs, then launched a full-scale snack invasion.

Mom said she put the cookie jar under surveillance, but it was just a squeaky floorboard that tattled on me.

At night the baker turned on the small surveillance camera. The thief moved slowly; the baker watched the live surveillance screen and felt fear. The thief froze under clear surveillance light. Later, police used the surveillance footage to catch him. The baker sighed, safe now, and left the surveillance on.

This word is at the C1 level, which means it’s part of advanced English. It’s used in sophisticated conversations, professional settings, and academic discussions. Words at this level help you express yourself fluently and precisely in nuanced situations.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.