overhear

American  

[oh-ver-heer] / ˌoʊ vərˈhɪər /

verb (used with object)

overheard, overhearing

1. to hear (speech or a speaker) without the speaker's intention or knowledge.

   I accidentally overheard what they were saying.

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overhear British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈhɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to hear (a person, remark, etc) without the knowledge of the speaker

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Other Word Forms

• overhearer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of overhear

First recorded in 1540–50; over- + hear

Explanation

When you accidentally hear part of a private conversation, you overhear it. If you overhear your friends discussing the surprise party they're throwing for your birthday, you'll have to pretend to be surprised. Some restaurants have tables so close together that it's hard not to overhear what your neighbors are talking about. And so many people walk around talking loudly on their mobile phones that it's common to overhear several conversations (or, at least one half of them) just walking down the sidewalk. This is a modern phenomenon, but overhear is an old word, from the sixteenth century idea of hearing "beyond the normal range of the voice."

Example Sentences

Overhear someone make a snide remark about people who think as you do?

From Washington Post • Mar. 11, 2019

Overhear, if thou canst, what she desires, For so my cunning and my credit spreads.

From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 7 by Various

"You've made good time, friend Juggut Khan!" said Brown, advancing to meet him where the men and the fakir and the interpreter would not be able to Overhear.

From Told in the East by Mundy, Talbot

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• attend
• get
• observe
• take notice
• tune in