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passerbya person who is walking past a particular place by chance

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a person who is walking past a particular place by chance

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpæsərˌbaɪ/

Example Sentences

  • The street performer earned money from generous passersby who enjoyed his magic show.
  • When my phone died, I had to ask three different passersby for directions before finding someone who actually knew the way.
  • The lost cat was rescued by a kind passerby who saw it hiding under the car.

passerby

NOUN

[/ˈpæsərˌbaɪ/]

a person who is walking past a particular place by chance

A passerby helped the elderly man cross the street.
💡 Concept

A passerby helped the elderly man cross the street.

Every passerby stopped to watch the street performer. (🚶 Pass + 👤 Person → Passerby)
🧠 Mnemonic

Every passerby stopped to watch the street performer. (🚶 Pass + 👤 Person → Passerby)

A passerby was passing by, saying hi to everyone with a smile.
🎵 Rhyme

A passerby was passing by, saying hi to everyone with a smile.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈpæsərˌbaɪ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈpɑːsəˌbaɪ/

🌳Etymology

Rootpass
Suffix-by

Origin

Passerby is a compound word formed from the verb 'pass' (to go by or move past) and the adverb 'by' (beside or near). The term literally describes a person who passes by a place, emerging in English to denote a casual pedestrian or onlooker.

Breakdown

pass (to go by, move past) + by (beside, near) = passerby (a person passing by; a casual pedestrian or onlooker)

🎵Rhyme

standbynearbygoodbyebutterfly
standby
nearby
goodbye
butterfly

🔗Collocations

random passerby
ask a passerby
helpful passerby
curious passerby
passerby stopped
attract passersby

📝Examples

The street performer earned money from generous passersby who enjoyed his magic show.

😄 Fun example

When my phone died, I had to ask three different passersby for directions before finding someone who actually knew the way.

The lost cat was rescued by a kind passerby who saw it hiding under the car.

Every passerby stopped to take photos of the incredibly realistic chalk art on the sidewalk.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

pedestrianwalkerbystanderonlookerstranger

Antonyms

residentlocalinhabitant

Related

pedestriancrowdstreetsidewalkwitness

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