eavesdrop
verb (used without object)
to listen secretly to a private conversation.
eavesdropping
-
present participleof eavesdrop.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
It was part of a network of country houses with similar set-ups for eavesdropping, with the gathered intelligence then shared with Bletchley Park.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
The moment the door to the flat was forced was recorded on an audio eavesdropping device - a bug - that UK law enforcement had put in the flat.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026
Quantum cryptography offers a promising defense by using the rules of quantum physics to secure communication against eavesdropping.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 29, 2025
As Ms. Picasso puts it: “There’s a lot of chatter going on between these works—like we’re eavesdropping at a party.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
“I will have the children read Hamlet as soon as it is practical. There are some useful cautions against eavesdropping to be gleaned from that. In the meantime, we shall deal with the squirrels.”
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
