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Definition of beholder

beholder

/bɪˈhoʊldər/
be · hold · er
Plural:beholders
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beholder Lexical Profile

beholder Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who sees, observes, or looks upon someone or something.

Example

"The ancient mural left every beholder in quiet awe of the artist's skill."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for beholder

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary English, 'beholder' is almost exclusively encountered in the proverbial expression 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'; outside of this idiom or literary contexts, 'observer' or 'viewer' is preferred.

• Rhymes for beholder

• Nearby Words

behind
behold
beholden
beholder
behoove
bei
bei river

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English biholdere, derived from the verb biholden (from Old English bihaldan, meaning 'to hold in view' or 'to observe') combined with the agentive suffix -er.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Beholder. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/beholder
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