overheard

Definition of overheardnext
past tense of overhear
as in heard
to listen to (another in private conversation) it's not polite to try to overhear intimate friends sharing confidences

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of overheard The arrangement unraveled in 2022, after one of the involved parties bragged about it at a professional conference and was overheard by an LAUSD employee who reported the comments to district officials, the complaint said. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026 His neighbors and roommates overheard the commotion from the shooting. Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026 In addition to the ring switch-up and Roach's head-turning comments, the actress was overheard accepting well-wishes from attendees at Essence's Black Women in Hollywood Awards on March 12. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 Bridgman said the first time Fraraccio was arrested, someone in her apartment complex overheard the altercation and called the police. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026 The inmate claimed the whole wing overheard the exchange. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026 One passenger was overheard telling others that her flight waited around three hours. Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2026 Packed with mistaken identities, overheard conversations, and joyful chaos, this beloved classic is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies. Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026 Returning late from the PBR event to find downtown kitchens largely dark, the hotel lobby bar server overheard that my partner and I were starving. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overheard
Verb
  • Guests include those already loyal to the Six Senses brand and Missoni clad fashionistas who have heard about the hideaway’s sizable wellness offerings.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Alleged damages must be in excess of $5 million to be heard in Texas Business Court, but plaintiffs state the full amount they are owed will be determined at trial.
    Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • And Mindi said at one point she was being spied upon.
    Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • But there’s no snow on the 101 Freeway near Thousand Oaks — which might come as a surprise to those who spied an errant travel alert from the California Department of Transportation.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • He was limited to just 19 starts his rookie year as the Marlins monitored his innings as a 20-year-old.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Weiner also touted the NYPD’s network of cameras and sensors, which are monitored by members of the NYPD’s intelligence division, and international liaison officers posted in the Middle East as elements providing the department with early-warning detection capabilities.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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