Lurking: meaning, definitions and examples

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lurking

 

[ หˆlษœหrkษชล‹ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

online behavior

To lurk means to observe or monitor a discussion without actively participating. It is often associated with social media platforms or online forums, where users may read content without engaging in the conversation.

Synonyms

monitor, observe, watch

Examples of usage

  • He was lurking in the chat room, reading the messages but not saying anything.
  • She spent hours lurking on the forum, absorbing information without commenting.
  • The lurkers on the social media page outnumbered the active participants.
  • I noticed someone lurking on my profile, but they never liked or commented on anything.
  • Many people enjoy lurking in online communities to gather information without drawing attention to themselves.
Context #2 | Noun

person's behavior

A lurker is someone who observes or monitors a discussion without actively participating. This term is commonly used in the context of online communities.

Synonyms

observer, spectator, watcher

Examples of usage

  • The lurker in the group chat never says anything but reads all the messages.
  • She is known as the silent lurker in the online forum, always watching but never commenting.
  • Many lurkers prefer to stay hidden and simply observe the interactions.
  • It's hard to identify the lurkers in the online community since they rarely engage in conversations.
  • Being a lurker allows you to gather information without feeling pressured to contribute.

Translations

Translations of the word "lurking" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น espreitando

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค˜เคพเคค เคฒเค—เคพเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช lauern

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ mengintai

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟั–ะดะบั€ะฐะดะฐั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ czaiฤ‡ siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฝœใ‚“ใงใ„ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท roder

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ acechando

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gizlenmek

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ˆจ์–ด ์žˆ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠุชุฑุจุต

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ฤรญhat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ฤรญhaลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆฝœไผ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ preลพati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ lรฆรฐa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐัั‹ั€ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฉแƒแƒกแƒแƒคแƒ แƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gizlษ™nmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ acechar

Etymology

The term 'lurking' originated in online communities and forums in the late 20th century. It reflects the behavior of individuals who read or observe discussions without actively participating. The concept of lurking can be traced back to the early days of the internet when users would 'lurk' in chat rooms or message boards. Over time, the term has become widely used to describe passive observation in various online contexts. The practice of lurking raises questions about online engagement, privacy, and social dynamics.

See also: lurk, lurker.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,528, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.