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lurker

American  
[lurk-er] / ˈlɜrk ər /

noun

  • lurkers
    plural
  1. Digital Technology. a person who reads or listens in on an online conversation without taking part.

  2. a person who lurks, lying in wait or moving around stealthily in a place.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When he cranked up the pyro on the midcareer lurker ballad “The Hills,” the front rows of SoFi got a bracing reminder of how volatile this music is even when it sits atop streaming charts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2025

Thrun was no r/RealTesla lurker; he was on his fifth Tesla, and he said he admired the company: “What Tesla has is really beautiful. They have a fleet of vehicles in the field.”

From New York Times ● Jan. 17, 2023

I know manager Scott Servais has a lurker account.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 16, 2021

He tried to focus on his job, but the lurker was making him nervous.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2021

Certainly not the late-night lurker and his crying wife, and definitely not the stomping dirt trackers.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Scientists are still sorting out the answer, but it’s clear that these kinds of cells aren’t merely passive lurkers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025

“I went to them and said, ‘Hey, can we have one of those stilt walkers?’” says Slash, referring to the larger-than-life lurkers who haunt guests during the festivities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2025

Knowing that these pans are problematic, you may be tempted to toss any lurkers in your cupboard.

From Salon ● Dec. 9, 2024

But while trading Mancini seemed like something of a white flag for the Orioles, they have continued winning since, clinging to their role as the unlikeliest lurkers on the outskirts of the AL wild-card race.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 16, 2022

The lurkers were never the same two days running, although they all seemed to share a dislike for normal clothing.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

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