passive observer

collocation in English

meaningsofpassiveandobserver

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withobserver.
passive
adjective
uk
/ˈpæs.ɪv/us
/ˈpæs.ɪv/
languagespecialized
The passive form of a verb is being used when the grammatical subject is the person or thing that experiences the effect of an action, rather than the person or thing that causes ...
See more atpassive
observer
noun[C]
uk
/əbˈzɜː.vər/us
/əbˈzɝː.vɚ/
a person who watches what happens but has no active part ...
See more atobserver

(Definition ofpassiveandobserverfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofpassive observer

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Enjoyment came from active pursuits but also from being apassiveobserverof life around.
From theCambridge English Corpus
There is no such thing as thepassiveobserverwho may watch innocently.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Participants who were receiving palliative care hoped to be able to actively help their families rather than be apassiveobserveror outsider.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It was a time and set of circumstances that turned the western frontier from apassiveobserverinto an active participant in international politics.
From theCambridge English Corpus
He would not be simply apassiveobserver, simply licensing.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Europe was not apassiveobserver.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
Throughout the 1990s, the concept of apassiveobserver/researcher was rejected, and qualitative research became more participatory and activist-oriented.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Kuruppu is also shown as apassiveobserverin some of the happenings in the street.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
It was through simply wearing electric seeing aids, as apassiveobserver, that it was discovered that surveillance and sousveillance can cause conflict and sometimes confrontation.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
He achieved fame by groundbreaking programs where he took himself and the microphone to participate in various extraordinary events, such as diving and parachuting, instead of remaining apassiveobserver.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
We can no longer remain passive observers of these vigorous protests.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
That does not mean, however, that we have any intention of being passive observers of what is happening.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
It must be made clear that mere passive observers at the count are not enough.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It indicates that some rights rest with candidates and that their repre sentatives are not just passive observers, but are agents.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We are no more than passive observers of what happens to tax and public expenditure.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He insisted that philosophy of mind has been distorted by philosophers when they think of persons only as passive observers and not as self-willed agents.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
In traditional theatre, performance is limited to a designated stage area and the action of the play unfolds without any interplay with audience members, who function as passive observers.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
They were mostly passive observers.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofpassive
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See other collocations withobserver