overhear

American  

[oh-ver-heer] / ˌoʊ vərˈhɪər /

verb (used with object)

overheard, overhearing

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

   I accidentally overheard what they were saying.

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overhear British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈhɪə /

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

• overhearer noun

Etymology

Origin of overhear

First recorded in 1540–50; over- + hear

Explanation

When you accidentally hear part of a private conversation, you overhear it. If you overhear your friends discussing the surprise party they're throwing for your birthday, you'll have to pretend to be surprised. Some restaurants have tables so close together that it's hard not to overhear what your neighbors are talking about. And so many people walk around talking loudly on their mobile phones that it's common to overhear several conversations (or, at least one half of them) just walking down the sidewalk. This is a modern phenomenon, but overhear is an old word, from the sixteenth century idea of hearing "beyond the normal range of the voice."

Example Sentences

Interestingly, the girls that I overhear speaking about romantic relationships, many of them are not in heteronormative relationships.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

You can talk to it, let it overhear your day and—in the case of glasses—let it see what you’re seeing in real time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

She told the BBC she would overhear Alphonsine helping her with her language skills.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2025

“I used to sit and overhear conversations you had with Eleanor about that.”

From Seattle Times • May 18, 2024

I murmured, praying that Claudius and my father would not overhear.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• attend
• get
• observe
• take notice
• tune in