Passerby: meaning, definitions and examples
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passerby
[ ˈpæsərˌbaɪ ]
person walking
A passerby is a person who is walking past a particular location. Typically, they are not involved in the activities happening at that location and may just be moving from one place to another. The term often implies a casual or incidental encounter with a place or event.
Synonyms
bystander, onlooker, pedestrian
Examples of usage
- The passerby stopped to help the lost child.
- A passerby witnessed the accident and called for help.
- She smiled at the passerby as they walked by.
- The artist painted the scene with a passerby in the foreground.
Translations
Translations of the word "passerby" in other languages:
🇵🇹 transeunte
🇮🇳 पैसेंजर
🇩🇪 Passant
🇮🇩 pejalan
🇺🇦 перехожий
🇵🇱 przechodzień
🇯🇵 通行人
🇫🇷 passant
🇪🇸 peatón
🇹🇷 yaya
🇰🇷 행인
🇸🇦 مار
🇨🇿 přecházející
🇸🇰 prechádzajúci
🇨🇳 过路人
🇸🇮 pešec
🇮🇸 göngumaður
🇰🇿 жол жүріп жатқан адам
🇬🇪 გამვლელი
🇦🇿 keçən
🇲🇽 peatón
Etymology
The word 'passerby' is formed from two components: 'passer,' which comes from the verb 'to pass,' meaning to move past something or someone, and 'by,' indicating proximity or location. The term 'passer' has its roots in Middle English, derived from the Old French 'passer,' which itself comes from the Latin 'passare,' meaning 'to pass, go by.' The combined form 'passerby' emerged in English in the mid-19th century, evolving to describe anyone who happens to be passing a specific location. Its usage has remained relatively consistent, capturing the notion of someone transiently present in a setting without being actively involved.