listen in
Britishverb
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to listen to the radio
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to intercept radio communications
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to listen but not contribute (to a discussion), esp surreptitiously
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Hear or overhear the conversation of others; eavesdrop. It is also put as listen in on , as in She listened in on her parents and learned they were planning a surprise party . [Early 1900s]
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Tune in and listen to a broadcast, as in Were you listening in the other night when they played Beethoven's Fifth? [1920s]
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.
"We did not listen in the way we should have, and this family deserved better from us."
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Inspired by Grandmaster Flash, he began freestyling in his early teens, first to himself in the bathroom, then to anyone who would listen in the cafeteria.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026
Hougan brought up the example of a TikTok content creator who flew to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., before the Super Bowl in order to listen in on rehearsals for the national anthem.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 20, 2026
The best way to digest the set is to listen in smaller chunks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
“You can use the computer to sweep a room and check if somebody’s trying to listen in on you. I suggest you use it the moment you arrive. And finally...my own favorite.”
From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
