onlooker

noun

on·​look·​er ˈȯn-ˌlu̇-kər How to pronounce onlooker (audio)
ˈän-
: one that looks on
especially : a passive spectator
onlooking adjective

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 Think back to the last time a total solar eclipse was visible from the United States in April 2017, when NASA advised onlookers to watch the astronomical phenomenon with specialized eye protection. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Ignited by a long firewire from the church steeple, a massive alligator and Titanic replica burned bright, illuminating the large crowd of onlookers crammed onto the promenade. Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2024 The drone footage also showed onlookers fleeing as the cliffside crumbled and tumbled down into the ocean below. Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, eager onlookers pay $40 to ogle and nibble. The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 Multiple police agencies also responded last summer when a brawl among juveniles drew a massive crowd of underage onlookers. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 The ongoing legal drama between the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance and Craig Wright in London has left onlookers astonished. Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Your reaction might appear out of proportion to the comment that provoked it, but there’s probably a long backstory that isn’t known to all onlookers. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2024 As the world assesses Ukraine’s prospects and the Kremlin pushes a narrative meant to convince onlookers that it cannot be beaten, Mr. Zelensky must work equally hard to show that Ukraine can win. Marc Santora, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'onlooker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of onlooker was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near onlooker

Cite this Entry

“Onlooker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onlooker. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

onlooker

noun
on·​look·​er ˈȯn-ˌlu̇k-ər How to pronounce onlooker (audio)
ˈän-

More from Merriam-Webster on onlooker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!