listen in (on)

Definition of listen in (on)next
as in to eavesdrop (on)
to listen to (another in private conversation) it's not polite to listen in on other people's private conversations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for listen in (on)
Verb
  • Growing up, Williford heard stories of ancestors catching giant grasshoppers, wrapping them in a maple leaf, adding a berry, then roasting them in fire and eating them like popcorn.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • In one video, several loud booms can be heard as a fireball appears behind buildings in the direction of the city’s port.
    Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • In a provocation to the Forest Service officers monitoring the blockade, the slightest nudging threatened to send the edifice crashing to the ground and Tubbs to his maiming or death.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • Waymo's cars, equipped with an array of cameras, microphones and other sensors to monitor passengers and other nearby vehicles, are becoming more common in cities across the United States.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • At least 60 Israelis have been indicted on charges of spying for Iran, but this appears to be the first time an American has been detained in Israel on similar suspicions.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Degorski had told an ex-girlfriend of his role in the killings, and a friend who overheard her talking about it in 2002 went to the police.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • Muraki admitted overhearing her comments about the home but denied handing a note during their first meeting.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Listen in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listen%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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