spectator

noun

ˈspek-ˌtā-tər How to pronounce spectator (audio)
Definition of spectatornext
as in observer
someone who sees or watches something a building demolition that drew a crowd of spectators even at 3:00 a.m.

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 spectator Today, it’s billed as the world’s largest free hot air balloon event, attracting up to 100 balloons and more than 150,000 spectators. — Tamara Gane, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026 Risers for spectators to view the race and bridges for people to get around have been constructed. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Independence Day festivities drew hundreds of thousands of visitors, while organizers expect the Grand Prix to attract roughly 140,000 spectators each day. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026 The few spectators who have gathered at the scene fall silent, and the actresses take their places. — Adrien Marotte, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spectator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectator
  1. observer
  2. viewer
Noun
  • But some investors and observers point to the product's internal leverage as a cause for concern and controversy.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Spotting a pair of smart glasses can require tech-savvy security staff, and enforcement may depend on users voluntarily disclosing their devices—or on watchful observers speaking up.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of observer
Noun
  • For $6/month, viewers can watch all out-of-market live preseason action on NFL+, unless the game airs on a national network, as is the case Thursday night when ESPN covers Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders’ trip to play the Houston Texans.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • This video takes viewers inside the arraignment process to explain how bail decisions are made and what the court's latest guidance means for defendants and their families.
    — James Ward, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of viewer

Browse Nearby Words

spectaculars
spectator
spectators
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Cite this Entry

“Spectator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectator. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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