overhear
verb (used with object)
to hear (speech or a speaker) without the speaker's intention or knowledge.
had been overhearing
-
past perfect progressiveof overhear.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
She and Nin had been overhearing bits of news about them for a couple of years now.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
The shot fell from the professor's palm; his spectacles dropped on his nose, and the school tumultuously broke up, the pupils scrambling up the ladders with the sailors, who had been overhearing the lecture.
From White Jacket or, the World on a Man-of-War by Herman Melville
He went out into the passage, and there met one of his comrades, who had been overhearing his conversation.
From Resurrection by Louise Shanks Maude
