Verb
watch the world go by (third-person singular simple present watches the world go by, present participle watching the world go by, simple past and past participle watched the world go by)
(UK) To pause and remain still whilst doing nothing but surveying the environment around oneself.
I think I'll just sit under this tree and watch the world go by.
I don't want to be famous. I like to be able to sit in a cafe and watch the world go by and observe people. Sophia Myles