Onlooking

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɒnlʊkɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The behavior of watching an event or activity without taking part in it
2. The state of being a spectator who observes occurrences from afar without engaging directly
3. Engaging in observing events or activities without getting involved

Etymology: "Onlooking" is about as transparent as English compounds get: it is "on" joined to "looking," with the two parts keeping their ordinary senses. The "on" here carries the sense of being positioned beside or over an event, so an onlooker is someone who stands on the edge of a scene rather than taking part in it. The verb form "onlooking" is simply the present participle of "onlook," the same pattern that gives us "overlooking" and "undergoing." Its meaning, watching from aside, follows directly from that combination, with nothing hidden in the history of its parts.

Synonyms: watching, observing, viewing, gazing

Antonyms: ignoring, overlooking