onlooker

noun

on·​look·​er ˈȯn-ˌlu̇-kər 

ˈän-

: one that looks on

especially : a passive spectator

onlooking

ˈȯn-ˌlu̇-kiŋ 

ˈän-

adjective

Synonyms of onlooker

• observer
• spectator
• viewer

Examples of onlooker in a Sentence

Curious onlookers watched the ceremony.

An onlooker noticed the disturbance.

A crowd of onlookers gathered at the fire.

Recent Examples on the Web

To an efficiency-minded onlooker, both would read as time wasted. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

During the encounter, onlookers stopped and can be heard on video questioning the ICE agents. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

According to an onlooker, the pair sweetly walked into the event hand-in-hand. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

The beluga came from below and passed in one swooping motion, twisting to display its chest to onlookers. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for onlooker

• booker
• cooker
• looker
• rooker
• snooker

Kids Definition

onlooker

noun

on·​look·​er ˈȯn-ˌlu̇k-ər 

ˈän-

: spectator