eavesdrop (on)

Definition of eavesdrop (on)next
as in to listen in (on)
to listen to (another in private conversation) a nosy traveler who likes to eavesdrop on his fellow airline passengers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eavesdrop (on)
Verb
  • Where that fresh water enters the ocean matters, but researchers have struggled to monitor it at scale.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
  • After reviewing over 30 years of monitoring data, entomologists at the University of Florida (UF) now say both the Formosan and Asian subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus and Coptotermes gestroi) are expanding their range of destruction.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Garnett, a Biden appointee and former Manhattan federal prosecutor, ruled after hearing oral arguments earlier this month.
    MICHAEL R. SISAK, Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Officials say Lynch's parents, who were in the backyard, heard the gunshots, found Lynch and Finn, and called 911.
    Katie Houlis, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • She was accused of misbehavior that included mismanaging the budget, failing to carry out personnel instructions and ordering a subordinate to spy by Palmer’s legally privileged email correspondence.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The spying operation was unusually vast and allowed the hackers to hoover up sensitive information in apparent coordination with geopolitical events, such as diplomatic missions, trade negotiations, political unrest and military actions, according to the report.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • On January 21st, an ICE vehicle pulled into the loading dock of the high school; in a video of the incident, taken from a classroom window, students can be overheard in a hubbub of jeering, incredulity, and fear.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Unbeknownst to Whitaker, Robby had popped his head into the room and overheard everything.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Eavesdrop (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eavesdrop%20%28on%29. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!