spectator

1 of 2

noun (1)

spec·​ta·​tor ˈspek-ˌtā-tər How to pronounce spectator (audio)
spek-ˈtā-
Synonyms of spectator
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
ˌspek-tə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce spectator (audio)
adjective
spectatorship
ˈspek-ˌtā-tər-ˌship How to pronounce spectator (audio)
spek-ˈtā-
noun

spectatorship

2 of 2

noun (2)

spec·​ta·​tor·​ship
1
obsolete : the condition of being viewed or submitted for viewing
2
: the condition of being a spectator especially as distinguished from a participant

Synonyms of spectator

Relevance

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of spectator in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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.
Noun
This award celebrates the best picture in Venezia Spotlight, judged by spectators. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 Each of the United States’ four biggest leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — has investigated its personnel for suspicious betting activity in the past 12 months, causing some spectators to consider whether sports are morphing into WrestleMania. — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 That also means the space station, traveling at dizzying speeds of about 17,500 mph, is routinely visible to spectators on the ground. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 Asked whether cinema should be political, Gyllenhaal replied that filmmakers and spectators needed to be open to all types of filmmakers and stories. — Nada Aboul Kheir, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spectator

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Noun (2)

Latin, from spectare to watch

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spectator was circa 1586

Phrases Containing spectator

Browse Nearby Words

spectate
spectator
spectatorial
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spectator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectator. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All