walk-on

American  

[wawk-on, -awn] / ˈwɔkˌɒn, -ˌɔn /

noun

1. Also called walking part.  a small part in a play or other entertainment, especially one without speaking lines.

2. an entertainer or actor who plays such a part.

3. an athlete trying out for a team who has not been drafted, specifically invited, scouted, awarded a scholarship, etc.

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walk-on British  

noun

1. 1. a small part in a play or theatrical entertainment, esp one without any lines

   2. ( as modifier )

      a walk-on part

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adjective

1. (of an aircraft or air service) having seats to be booked immediately before departure rather than in advance

Etymology

Origin of walk-on

First recorded in 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase walk on

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

walk-on

This has been the year of the walk-on outfits.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Oliver made it clear that he was not interested in a brief walk-on playing himself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

And what’s with Douglas MacArthur’s walk-on just before the final curtain?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

Appropriately, then, his walk-on music at Wembley was also an Elvis track - in this case, his cover of Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

He's found his way onto the stage, not only in Dumas's own adaptations of the Musketeers saga, but as a walk-on character in Cyrano de Bergerac by Rostand, for example.

From Project Gutenberg Dumas Commentary by Bursey, John

Related Words

• artist
• character
• clown
• comedian
• entertainer
• performer
• player
• star
• villain