eavesdrop

We need machines that listen to humans—not to eavesdrop, but with the humility to recognize that human intelligence may sometimes be a little better than the artificial kind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

The president sometimes messes with the reporters on the line or lets people around him eavesdrop on speakerphone.

From Slate ● Mar. 18, 2026

They’ve even heard of “Ear Hustle” — which means to eavesdrop — listening and discussion clubs in an Arkansas prison.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2026

Their ability to detect low-frequency sounds helps them eavesdrop on the mating calls of frogs.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2025

Penelope knew this, but in her defense it should be noted that she had not planned to eavesdrop in the first place.

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

One of the few au courant innovations on “What’s in the Box?” involves surveillance: As one couple answers questions, the camera eavesdrops on the conversations among their competition, which can range from catty to worse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025

Mailata, a five-year veteran, eavesdrops on Kelce’s tutorials to Jurgens so he can learn more about football.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 19, 2023

The film eavesdrops on board meetings and attends parties.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2022

The musical eavesdrops on a choreographer as she procrastinates over a sad task in her garden and warily ponders the glamour and fuss of a lifetime achievement award.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2021

Mom eavesdrops on Abuela and me then lambastes us with one of her sixty-odd diatribes when she doesn’t like what she hears.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

I have eavesdropped on other patients just losing their minds, saying this is absolutely ridiculous.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

What none of the call's participants know is that they're being eavesdropped on - and their conversation is being recorded.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2024

One night, as I eavesdropped before being chased to bed, I heard her say how bright the explosion was.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 31, 2022

During one moment in “The Willows,” I found myself trapped under a bed with an actor, Jacob Miller’s character named Conrad, and a stranger as we eavesdropped on another group.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2022

Her eyes crinkled in amusement, so he knew she did not mind that he had eavesdropped.

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park

It was part of a network of country houses with similar set-ups for eavesdropping, with the gathered intelligence then shared with Bletchley Park.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

A big reason for its continued survival: the effective surveillance of all residents—including eavesdropping on calls—and its iron-fisted control of every aspect of society, from sports centers to concert halls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

The moment the door to the flat was forced was recorded on an audio eavesdropping device - a bug - that UK law enforcement had put in the flat.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026

The fourth wall, encoded in the architecture of the proscenium stage, fosters the illusion that audiences are eavesdropping on a cordoned off reality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

“I will have the children read Hamlet as soon as it is practical. There are some useful cautions against eavesdropping to be gleaned from that. In the meantime, we shall deal with the squirrels.”

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood