looker-on

noun

Definition of looker-onnext
as in observer

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 looker-on Shortly after the Paris Couture Week show, beauty fanatics and experts quickly began to dissect McGrath’s brilliant makeup artistry, earning high praise from notable lookers-on. — Claire Sullivan, WWD, 23 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looker-on
  1. observer
  2. spectator
  3. onlooker
  4. bystander
Noun
  • Mundubile has alleged irregularities and election observers have also reported inflated vote tallies and improper administration.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Einstein’s special theory of relativity shows that, compared with a stationary observer, time flows more slowly for moving objects.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of observer
Noun
  • The case has become a national cultural fixation and a social media spectacle, gripping and dividing spectators well beyond the Massachusetts courtroom where the 36-year-old mother is charged with killing her three young children.
    — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Plenitude Arena has a capacity of 40,000 spectators and was one of the venues used for the Paris Games.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of spectator
Noun
  • Then, a horde of onlookers zombie-stagger after Shakur and Knight, out of the casino, toward Las Vegas Boulevard.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But Dollywood still takes part in Smoky Mountain Winterfest, a festival of lights that runs through the holidays and draws onlookers during the coldest months, Marr said.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of onlooker
Noun
  • When the boy and his grandmother got into difficulty in the water, his siblings, ages 4 and 6, yelled to attract the attention of bystanders.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Saturday from a concerned bystander who reported a disturbance near Alumni Park.
    — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of bystander

Browse Nearby Words

looker
looker-on
lookers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Looker-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looker-on. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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