Definition of bystandernext
as in observer
someone who sees or watches something bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bystander Guthrie said his daughter and her two friends ended up suspended upside down by their seat belts before a bystander helped unbuckle them and pull them out. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026 However, further investigation revealed that bullet fragments struck both a police officer and the 34-year-old bystander, cops said Friday. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 12 Sep. 2026 To a bystander, the difference between the groups was nearly impossible to see. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026 By the time first responders arrived, Munoz was being pulled from the water by bystanders. — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bystander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bystander
Noun
  • Still, some observers argue that holding Saturday’s Mass at Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées, near the National Assembly and the presidential palace, could be seen as a continuation of Catholicism’s privileged cultural position.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Storing explosive ammunition and stationing snipers in the middle of a busy traffic circle close to other, more secure military locations, including the Pentagon, strikes many observers as simultaneously dangerous and ridiculous.
    — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The committee moved the paddock closer to spectators and added a vendor village, children’s zone, pony rides and petting zoo.
    — Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026
  • More than 30,000 spectators are expected daily during tournament play Thursday through Sunday.
    — Eric Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Live streamers adjust their performance and content in real time based on their perception of the mood in the live chat from their viewers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, the episode viewers should watch has become one of the most notable episodes due to the characters featured.
    — Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bystander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bystander. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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