Standard Lemma guide

spectate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /spɛkˈteɪt/
  • US: /ˈspɛkteɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪt

1

verb

Meaning 1

To attend an event as a spectator; to observe.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

be a spectator in a sports event

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: watch, view, see, catch, take in

History

Etymology

Back-formation from spectator.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: spekti — attend an event as a spectator
  • Ido: spektar — attend an event as a spectator
  • Latvian: novērot — attend an event as a spectator
  • Sanskrit: पश्यति (paśyati) — attend an event as a spectator
  • Spanish: espectar — attend an event as a spectator