spectator

noun

spec·​ta·​tor ˈspek-ˌtā-tər How to pronounce spectator (audio)
spek-ˈtā-
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 adjective
spectatorship noun

Examples of spectator in a Sentence

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.
Like his father, Lucius is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator for the entertainment of a wealthy Roman emperor and hordes of bloodthirsty spectators. Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 8 Nov. 2024 The giant arena held gladiator contests, the reenactments of battles, and animal hunts of all sort in front of up to 80,000 spectators. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024 There have already been suggestions that Russia failed to keep spectators from getting so close to the aircraft, and then by allowing the videos to circulate on social media. Peter Suciu, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 The New York City marathon is the biggest in the world with more than 50,000 finishers and hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the 26.2-mile run through the city’s five boroughs. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spectator 

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from spectare to watch

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spectator was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near spectator

Cite this Entry

“Spectator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectator. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on spectator

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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