onlookers

noun

plural of onlooker
as in spectators
someone who sees or watches something several onlookers gave chase after the thief grabbed the woman's purse

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 onlookers Dozens of other workers on both banks pulled ropes to drag the structure forward, as hundreds of onlookers lined the canal to watch the highly unusual rescue effort. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Officers remained at the scene to de-escalate the situation and direct a crowd of onlookers away from the area, police said. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 Crowds gave the couple balloons and flowers, Britain’s PA Media news agency reported, with Harry and Meghan stopping to greet onlookers and pose for selfies. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 At the Homo Faber craft festival in Venice this past September, one such work—its mouth opening up like a blooming flower—had onlookers resisting the urge to touch it. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026 The outdoor temperature might have registered as freezing, but the crowd of onlookers sizzled with excitement. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 His lack of experience in the realms of ballet, classical music, opera, and jazz, formerly the center’s mainstays, have concerned some onlookers. — News Desk, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026 This phone’s standout feature is the adjustable privacy display, which can hide your entire screen, or just portions of it, from onlookers and strangers. — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026 In just a couple of months, fields in Palm Beach County’s Ag Reserve will be full of players from around the world competing on horseback, scoring goals with mallets and a ball as onlookers tailgate on the sidelines. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onlookers
  1. spectators
  2. observers
  3. viewers
Noun
  • The race would bring teams, corporate partners, international media and spectators to Rwanda, creating opportunities to promote tourism and attract business.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • On fan conduct, the commissioner said spectators must follow the WNBA’s code of conduct and can be ejected for violations.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of spectators
Noun
  • The gap between those predictions and the reality on the ground suggests many observers have overstated the likelihood of war.
    — Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • With polls showing Roy and Raman favored to win their respective races, political observers say the attempt to make Gascón relevant again may be a sign of panic from their opponents.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of observers
Noun
  • The 2026 contest drew 131 million viewers, down 35 million from the previous year.
    — Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The ratings decline comes amid a continuation of the drop-off in TV viewers overall — but Fox News has been losing viewers at a double-digit clip as CNN and MS NOW have been slightly up in recent months.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of viewers

Browse Nearby Words

onlooker
onlookers
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Cite this Entry

“Onlookers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onlookers. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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