Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who lurks, hides, or keeps out of sight.
  • noun An impostor; a cheap quack.
  • noun One who turns his hand to any work; a jack of all trades.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who lurks.
  • noun Prov. Eng. A small fishing boat.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Agent noun of lurk; one who lurks.
  • noun archaic, UK, dialect A small fishing-boat.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone waiting in concealment

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

lurk + -er, agentive suffix

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Examples

  • The term lurker is not at all pejorative—it simply means you're reading blog content and following the conversation going on in the comments section of the post, but you don't participate often if at all.

    Archive 2005-06-01 2005

  • I've been in lurker mode lately, too, and have been enjoying the "vacation".

    Amazing Thread v.2.0 2009

  • Canadian lurker is right -- you have a lot more to think about at the voting booth than just gun rights.

    Pheasant Numbers 2008

  • I'm completely cool with lurkers, by the way also: hate the word lurker: I envision a pasty bearded man, maniac and crouched in yellow nylon shorts behind a bush No need to comment unless you want to, although I think every blogger does love comments, otherwise they'd just shut 'em off, or scrawl in an old-school diary, you know?

    blog: Stage Fright 2008

  • I'm completely cool with lurkers, by the way also: hate the word lurker: I envision a pasty bearded man, maniac and crouched in yellow nylon shorts behind a bush No need to comment unless you want to, although I think every blogger does love comments, otherwise they'd just shut 'em off, or scrawl in an old-school diary, you know?

    blog: February 2008 2008

  • A mysterious lurker is noticed at the scene, but no evidence links him to the crime.

    Boing Boing: March 16, 2003 - March 22, 2003 Archives 2003

  • As a long-term lurker in the shadows of this esteemed Site and inspired in no small way by Legs's blog, I thought I would nail my own colours to the mast in my search for better health, fitness and a 36 inch or less waist line and start a blog on the subject!

    Army Rumour Service 2010

  • As a long-term lurker in the shadows of this esteemed Site and inspired in no small way by Legs's blog, I thought I would nail my own colours to the mast in my search for better health, fitness and a 36 inch or less waist line and start a blog on the subject!

    Army Rumour Service 2010

  • Hey Guys, long term lurker but I had to throw my 2 cents in on this one.

    Crazy Days and Nights 2008

  • i ask this in all sincerity as a medium term lurker and ocassional commenter and the odd Chris Walken post to as well – I feel, well, invested in the site and its well being.

    by way of explanation | clusterflock 2009

Comments

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  • lurker:

    1.Coolest unit in StarCraft:Brood War.

    2.people who only read, but never post in forums.

    3.you?

    December 10, 2006

  • I think StarCraft's lukers imbalanced the game.

    Still, it is a solid word.

    December 10, 2006

  • An author on Fanfiction.net was named this.

    September 13, 2012