plural lurkers
1
: one that lies hidden in or as if in ambush
a lurker in the shadows
It troubled me that there should have been a lurker on the stairs, on that night of all nights in the year …—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens2
: a person who reads messages on an Internet discussion forum or social media platform but does not contribute
Online fandom was a world where people were having conversations about the things they loved. For more than a decade, I was listening to the conversations, but I didn't say a word. I was a lurker.—Elizabeth Minkel
Elizabeth MinkelExamples of lurker in a Sentence
suddenly, the mysterious lurker leapt out into the light!
Recent Examples on the Web
As someone whose TikTok is algorithmically tuned to feed her Broadway interviews, curtain calls, and stage-door encounters, as well as a habitual lurker of the Just in Time Facebook group, Benjamin was familiar with the dance.
—Alexandra Starr, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Save-worthy frameworks work because lurkers collect resources.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
He became known as a West Wing lurker, and as someone likely to make a scene in a corridor—by, say, yelling at the head of the F.D.A. about the virtues of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID treatment.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
In her post, the OP explained that this was her first time ever posting on Reddit despite being a long-time lurker.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The Cubs and Padres are well clear of any lurkers for the top two spots, but the Mets have the last ticket in for now, with San Francisco, Arizona and Cincinnati all within 2 1/2 games of them.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
And how about the titular lurker, Théodore Pellerin?
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025
Despite the tumultuous past in its cosmic residence, the blue lurker looks like any other sun-like star in telescope snapshots of M67.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alexandra Starr, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Save-worthy frameworks work because lurkers collect resources.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
He became known as a West Wing lurker, and as someone likely to make a scene in a corridor—by, say, yelling at the head of the F.D.A. about the virtues of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID treatment.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
In her post, the OP explained that this was her first time ever posting on Reddit despite being a long-time lurker.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The Cubs and Padres are well clear of any lurkers for the top two spots, but the Mets have the last ticket in for now, with San Francisco, Arizona and Cincinnati all within 2 1/2 games of them.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
And how about the titular lurker, Théodore Pellerin?
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025
Despite the tumultuous past in its cosmic residence, the blue lurker looks like any other sun-like star in telescope snapshots of M67.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lurker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lurker. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
