eavesdropped (on)

past tense of eavesdrop (on)
as in listened 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 eavesdropped (on)
Verb
  • The Next Weather Team will continue to track three areas being monitored for possible development from the National Hurricane Center.
    Scott Withers, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Conditions are being monitored day-by-day to determine storm severity.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Explosions could be heard as the munitions detonated during the fire, forcing firefighters to stay out of the area for safety.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The ship’s captain has pleaded not guilty to charges including criminal damage in a case set to be heard early next year in Hong Kong, where the company is registered.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Jackson said California's law about confidential communication doesn't apply when there is a reasonable expectation that a conversation could be overheard or recorded.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
  • One of the first people to join his congregation was Gayana Albayan, who had learned about God through inference and overheard prayer.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • In the distance, the two ― both staffers of nondenominational Christian organization Cru ― spied a female avatar standing alone in the virtual hallway and decided to strike up a chat.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 26 July 2026
  • On one wall, the researchers spied what first appeared to be patches of dirt or debris on a mural; further scrutiny showed these were actually thin scraps of plaster that were inscribed with strange markings.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 July 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

“Eavesdropped (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eavesdropped%20%28on%29. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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