onlooker

/'ɔn,lukə/

Thân thiện

A curious onlooker watches the street performer from the sidewalk.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who watches something happening without being involved in it: An onlooker is someone who observes an event, situation, or activity but does not participate in it.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The police asked the onlookers to move back from the scene of the accident.
  • She felt like a mere onlooker at the family reunion, not really part of the conversation.

Advanced Usage

• "A passive onlooker": Emphasizes that the person is watching without taking any action or showing emotion.

  • He was a passive onlooker to the argument, refusing to get involved.

• "A crowd of onlookers": A common phrase describing a group of people watching an event.

  • A crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the street performers.

Variants and Related Words

• Onlooking (adj, rare): The act of being an onlooker.

  • The onlooking crowd grew restless.

• Looker-on (n, archaic/formal): An alternative, less common form for 'onlooker'.

  • The lookers-on were asked to remain silent.

Synonyms

• Spectator: A person who watches a show, game, or event.
• Bystander: A person who is present at an event but not involved; often implies proximity to an incident.
• Observer: A person who watches or notices something, can be neutral or part of a formal study.
• Witness: A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, happen.

Related Phrases

• "To stand by as an onlooker": To watch without intervening.
  • He couldn't just stand by as an onlooker while the child was in danger.

Related Idioms

• "A mere onlooker": Someone with no active role or influence in a situation.
  • In the corporate decision, I was a mere onlooker.

Học thuật

Noun

1. someone who looks on

Từ đồng nghĩa

• looker-on