as in heard
to listen to (another in private conversation)
it's not polite to try to overhear intimate friends sharing confidences
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overheard
He was also overheard threatening to kill the store’s manager, police said.
—
Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 16 Jan. 2026
The next day in English class, the teacher overheard Julian talking about the letter.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Talk openly about world events—without scaring them Even young children absorb bits of information about conflict, violence, and disaster—whether through classmates, TV in a waiting room, or overheard adult conversations.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 31 Dec. 2025
During her stint as a cast member in Broadway’s Hair, Keaton was in a constant battle with her weight and overheard a cast member talking about throwing up her food.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
The two left the bathroom and went into an empty lab classroom, where a female student overheard Matthews accuse Meismer of stealing the vape pen, prosecutors allege, Click2Houston reports.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Later in the day, a different teacher overheard the student talking about the incident, according to the lawsuit.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Two sources familiar with video of the strike said the two survivors were waving overheard before they were killed.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Gate agents were asked to relay the information—contrary to procedure—but mistakenly assumed the aircraft’s cabin manager had overheard a radio call outlining the issue.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 16 Jan. 2026
The next day in English class, the teacher overheard Julian talking about the letter.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Talk openly about world events—without scaring them Even young children absorb bits of information about conflict, violence, and disaster—whether through classmates, TV in a waiting room, or overheard adult conversations.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 31 Dec. 2025
During her stint as a cast member in Broadway’s Hair, Keaton was in a constant battle with her weight and overheard a cast member talking about throwing up her food.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
The two left the bathroom and went into an empty lab classroom, where a female student overheard Matthews accuse Meismer of stealing the vape pen, prosecutors allege, Click2Houston reports.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Later in the day, a different teacher overheard the student talking about the incident, according to the lawsuit.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Two sources familiar with video of the strike said the two survivors were waving overheard before they were killed.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Gate agents were asked to relay the information—contrary to procedure—but mistakenly assumed the aircraft’s cabin manager had overheard a radio call outlining the issue.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overheard
Verb
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Thousands of people have peacefully made their voices heard.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The Senate Education heard testimony on the bill, indicating lawmakers are serious about the proposal, but the committee has not yet taken a vote.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Upon arriving at the James Madison University campus in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in 1999, Jeff Bourne spied a 12,500-seat football stadium on a campus that only started playing the sport a little more than 25 years earlier.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Dec. 2025
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Where skeptics spied a bubble, the revolution’s leaders saw the dawn of a new era of abundance.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The county offered testimony from several jail officials who said that people in administrative separation are closely monitored and that deputies are trained to respond when help is needed — evidence the judge relied on in his ruling.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
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The district will be monitored for the next five years, at the minimum.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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