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 an undecipherable crackle, and he suspected Flock had hung vinyl sheets on windows to defeat eavesdropping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
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
Any attempt to intercept the quantum signals disturbs them, creating detectable errors that alert users to possible eavesdropping.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 17, 2026
A few locals straggled nearby, pretending to shop while eavesdropping.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
