onlooker
part of speech
noun (an onlooker, onlookers)
meaning for a pupil
An onlooker is a person who watches something happen but does not take part, especially an accident, fight or event in the street. tree →
sense in the lessons
Used in news and stories about accidents, fights and shows. In lessons about bullying and safety, onlookers (bystanders) are told that they can help by getting an adult or calling for help rather than just watching or filming. Phrases: «a crowd of onlookers», «curious onlookers», «onlookers gathered».
examples
- A crowd of onlookers gathered round the crashed car. tree →
- Onlookers cheered as the firefighters saved the cat. tree →
- He was just an onlooker; he didn't join the fight. tree →
- Onlookers filmed the scuffle on their phones. tree →
- The street performer amazed the onlookers. tree →
- An onlooker called the ambulance. tree →
- Don't be a silent onlooker when someone is being bullied. tree →
- “Nor did I,” Becuma replied, and she called on the onlookers to confirm that statement. tree →
note
Countable noun, one word. Close words: bystander, spectator (who watches a sport or show on purpose), witness (who saw something and can tell what happened). An onlooker is not to blame, but can still help.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «onlooker» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.