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.

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

Sometimes I just watch, trying to melt into a crowd, to overhear conversations, to spot glances and gestures and to see who leads and who follows.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2025

I regularly overhear other birders marveling over the flashy warblers in breeding plumage, while overlooking other comparatively less-flashy birds like vireos and sparrows.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2025

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

From Seattle Times • May 18, 2024

The last thing I need is for Madoc to overhear my being disrespectful and decide I’ll never belong at the Court.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

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