looked on
Watched without acting
Looked on means watched without participating, observing as a bystander: The crowd looked on as firefighters battled the blaze.
It suggests passive witnessing rather than active involvement.
The phrase can also mean regarded or considered: She looked on him as a mentor.
- regardedConsidered or esteemed
- spectatedViewed as audience
- bore witnessGave eyewitness account
- pitiedFelt sorrow for another
- observedPerceived through attention
watched · kept watch · empathized · viewed · disapproved · stood by · attended · gazed · judged · witnessed · stared · deemed · glimpsed · admired · marveled · scanned · envied · peered
active participation vs passive observation
looked onintervened
Came between disputants
stepped in · got involved · took action · participated · interceded
attention vs disregard
looked onlooked away
turned away · ignored · disregarded · turned a blind eye · tuned out
look, looked, looking, looks, looker, lookers, onlooker, onlookers, outlook