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Onlooker vs Standby - What's the difference?

onlooker | standby |

As nouns the difference between onlooker and standby

is that onlooker is a spectator; someone looks on or watches, without becoming involved or participating while standby is state of readiness without being immediately involved.

As a verb standby is

wait briefly: an alternative spelling of nocap=1|lang=en.

onlooker

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A spectator; someone looks on or watches, without becoming involved or participating.
    • I wasn’t in the fight, I was only an onlooker .

    Synonyms

    * bystander

    Anagrams

    *

    standby

    English

    Alternative forms

    * stand-by

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • State of readiness without being immediately involved.
    • ''The troops were on standby in case of an attack.
  • (travel) Waiting at the airport in the hope of getting a seat on a flight that is already booked out.
  • Something that is standard, well-tested, or frequently used.
    • That recipe is an old standby , and she keeps the ingredients around in case of unexpected guests.

    Verb

    • Standby while I check that for you.

    Quotations

    * (English Citations of "standby") English nouns with irregular plurals