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Definitions

walk-on

[wawk-on, -awn] / ˈwɔkˌɒn, -ˌɔn /
NOUN
actor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
artist character clown comedian entertainer performer player star villain
STRONG
amateur barnstormer extra foil ham headliner idol impersonator lead mime mimic pantomimist playactor soubrette stand-in stooge thespian trouper understudy ventriloquist
WEAK
bit player hambone ingenue ingénue straight person thesp
Antonyms
WEAK
audience fan
NOUN
bit part
Synonyms
WEAK
bit minor part small role small speaking part
Antonyms
WEAK
lead
NOUN
part
Synonyms
STRONGEST
piece
STRONG
antagonist bit cameo character dialogue hero lead lines protagonist villain
WEAK
bit part leading role minor role principal character romantic lead silent bit stock character straight part supporting role title role
Antonyms
WEAK
whole
NOUN
player
Synonyms
STRONGEST
actor performer star
STRONG
entertainer extra ham impersonator lead mime mimic stand-in thespian trouper understudy
WEAK
bit player hambone scene stealer
Antonyms
WEAK
director spectator
NOUN
role
Synonyms
STRONGEST
act appearance aspect character part performance portrayal
STRONG
acting bit clothing execution extra guise hero ingenue lead look personification piece player presentation representation semblance show star stint super title
WEAK
seeming
Antonyms
STRONGEST
whole
STRONG
disregard ignorance reality

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But she failed to hear her husband Mark's voice on a phone call with Kathy, or see her son's walk-on cameo at the Queen Vic.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

The former Crespi High star initially wanted to play for Michigan State, but he couldn’t make the team, even as a walk-on, so he tried to become a student manager, and failed at that, too.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

At Notre Dame: The movie “Rudy” immortalizes a real-life 1975 Notre Dame-Georgia Tech game in which a walk-on football player and a teammate sacked the opposing quarterback, helping the Fighting Irish win 24-3.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

That makes me excited to wake up and do the whole, like, walk-on or whatever.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

If they are to have anything more than a mere walk-on part, they should very quickly explain themselves.

From The Lure of the Pen A book for Would-Be Authors by Klickmann, Flora