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Definitions

overhear

[oh-ver-heer] / ˌoʊ vərˈhɪər /

VERB

bug

Synonyms

STRONGEST

wiretap

STRONG

eavesdrop spy tap

WEAK

listen in

VERB

eavesdrop

Synonyms

STRONGEST

listen in snoop

STRONG

bug monitor pry spy tap wire wiretap

WEAK

be all ears bend an ear ears into tune in on

Antonyms

WEAK

ignore

VERB

hear

Synonyms

STRONGEST

attend get listen pick up read

STRONG

apprehend auscultate catch descry devour eavesdrop hark hearken heed strain

WEAK

be all ears become aware get an earful get wind of give an audience to give attention give ears make out take in

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore lose misunderstand

VERB

hearken

Synonyms

STRONG

apprehend attend auscultate catch descry devour eavesdrop get give hark heed listen read strain take

WEAK

be all ears become aware get an earful get wind of give an audience to give attention give ears make out pick up

Antonyms

STRONG

abstain be immune calm disregard fail hold ignore keep lose miss misunderstand neglect soothe

VERB

listen

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accept admit attend get observe take notice tune in

STRONG

adopt audit auscultate catch concentrate eavesdrop entertain hark harken hearken mind monitor obey receive welcome

WEAK

auscult be all ears be attentive get a load of give an audience to give attention give heed to hang on words hear out hear tell lend an ear pick up on prick up ears take advice take into consideration take under advisement tune in on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deny dispute ignore miss refuse reject

STRONG

disobey disregard forget neglect turn away

WEAK

speak talk

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.

As I reviewed Tuesday’s events at a bar near Altman’s home in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

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

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

It was popular in competitive office environments — among, for example, salesmen who didn’t want the other fellas to overhear their leads.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2024

For a little while she wondered if they were hanging around, to overhear something.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

overhear

Example Sentences

Related Words