spectator

noun

spec·​ta·​tor ˈspek-ˌtā-tər How to pronounce spectator (audio)
spek-ˈtā-
1
: one who looks on or watches
2
: a shoe having contrasting colors with a perforated design at the toe and sometimes heel
spectator adjective
spectatorial adjective
spectatorship noun

Examples of spectator in a Sentence

The spectators lining the road cheered the racers on. The accident attracted a large crowd of spectators. I wasn't a participant in the preparations, merely a spectator.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Upon arrival, players, coaches and spectators will be screened by security officers using handheld metal detectors and bag checks will also be conducted. Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 14 July 2025 However for next summer’s World Cup, players and spectators will benefit from other stadiums having this too, in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles in the U.S., and Vancouver and Toronto in Canada. Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025 The worker standing in its elevated compartment was taken onto an ambulance, spectators said. William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025 Thursday's tragedy echoes past incidents, including the 1975 Western Open, where Lee Trevino and two others were struck by lightning, and the 1991 U.S. Open, where a spectator was killed at Hazeltine. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for spectator

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from spectare to watch

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spectator was circa 1586

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Cite this Entry

“Spectator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectator. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

spectator

noun
spec·​ta·​tor ˈspek-ˌtāt-ər How to pronounce spectator (audio)
spek-ˈtāt-
: a person who looks on (as at a sports event)
spectator adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on spectator

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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