Definitions
- Referring to a person who is walking or driving by a particular place. - Talking about someone who is passing through an area without stopping or lingering. - Describing someone who is in transit and not staying in one place for long.
- Referring to a person who is watching an event or activity from a distance. - Talking about someone who is observing a situation without actively participating. - Describing someone who is standing by and watching something happen.
List of Similarities
- 1Both refer to people who are observing something.
- 2Both can be used to describe someone who is not actively participating in the situation.
- 3Both can be used in the context of a crowd or group of people.
What is the difference?
- 1Location: Passerby is typically used to describe someone who is passing through a particular place, while onlooker can be used to describe someone who is watching from a distance or nearby.
- 2Activity: Passerby implies movement or transit, while onlooker implies standing still and watching.
- 3Involvement: Passerby suggests a lack of involvement in the situation, while onlooker may imply a level of interest or curiosity.
- 4Duration: Passerby suggests a brief or temporary presence, while onlooker may suggest a longer period of observation.
- 5Connotation: Passerby is neutral in tone, while onlooker may have a negative connotation of being a mere spectator or voyeur.
Remember this!
Passerby and onlooker both refer to people who are observing something without actively participating. However, the difference between the two is their location, level of involvement, and duration. A passerby is someone who is passing through a particular place and implies a lack of involvement, while an onlooker is someone who is watching from a distance or nearby and may suggest a level of interest or curiosity.
