listens in (on)

present tense third-person singular of listen in (on)
as in eavesdrops (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 listens in (on)
Verb
  • For all its tests, the company builds realistic simulated environments, red teams these environments itself and with third parties to see whether they can be escaped, and monitors what agents do.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The system monitors equipment conditions, identifies abnormalities, and can initiate automated responses.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Print out every word a child hears on the way to mastering language and the stack stands about as tall as a house.
    — Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Every audience hears about the tweets from Michigan’s William Lawrence, condemning the nuclear family, and New York’s Darializa Avila Chevalier, about how July 4 should be about the liberation of Palestine and Puerto Rico.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • One morning at school, Frida spies bruises on Elia’s back and overhears her and Emmanuel talking about having been disciplined by their parents.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Late one night, Clark spies what appears to be a sliver of light coming through a crack in the wall of the store’s basement.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Rosa is kind and helpful, but Kaylee worries about disappointing Fraser, who overhears her ask for Rosa’s help.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • One morning at school, Frida spies bruises on Elia’s back and overhears her and Emmanuel talking about having been disciplined by their parents.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 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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“Listens in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listens%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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