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Definition of passer-by noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

passer-by

noun
 
/ˌpɑːsə ˈbaɪ/
 
/ˌpæsər ˈbaɪ/
(plural passers-by)
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  1. a person who is going past somebody/something by chance, especially when something unexpected happens
    • Police asked passers-by if they had seen the accident.
    Synonyms witnesswitnessobserver ▪ onlooker ▪ passer-by ▪ bystander ▪ eyewitnessThese are all words for a person who sees something happen.witness a person who sees something happen and is able to describe it to other people; a person who gives evidence in a court of law:
    • Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident.
    observer a person who sees something happen:
    • According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off.
    onlooker a person who watches something that is happening but is not involved in it:
    • A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash.
    passer-by a person who is going past somebody/​something by chance, especially when something unexpected happens:
    • Police asked passers-by if they had witnessed the accident.
    bystander a person who is near and can see what is happening when something such as an accident or fight takes place:
    • Three innocent bystanders were killed in the crossfire.
    eyewitness a person who has seen a crime or accident and can describe it afterwards.    Patterns
    • a witness/​an observer/​an onlooker/​a passer-by/​a bystander/​an eyewitness sees something
    • an observer/​an onlooker/​a passer-by/​a bystander witnesses something
Check pronunciation: passer-by

Nearby words

halfway
adverb
 
 
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