Synonyms

overhear

American

[oh-ver-heer] / ˌoʊ vərˈhɪər /

verb (used with object)

overheard, overhearing

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

I accidentally overheard what they were saying.

overhear British

/ ˌəʊvəˈhɪə /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

overhearer noun

Etymology

Origin of overhear

First recorded in 1540–50; over- + hear

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 heard music everywhere: a spoon banging against a cooking pot, the honking of geese overheard, the creak and slam of a screen door.

From Salon

The court heard that Morgan had been deemed a "high risk to others and to himself" after overhearing conversations that took place since he has been in custody.

From BBC

One look at her fierce blue eyes made it clear she’d overheard our conversation.

From Literature

She’s driving Dad’s car today since he was just going to be home—overheard that at breakfast.

From Literature

Sometimes, her lyrics seem like a collage of overheard phrases rather than a deliberately constructed narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023