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
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
In the hallway during an afternoon break, two jurors could be overheard comparing their own less-than-stellar interactions with their children to an episode in which Karen pulled over on the side of the highway and told Kaley to get out of the car.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Colt overheard this on speaker, which put a rift in his relationship with his mother, Gray said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Kizer – their father – was on the phone with her and overheard parts of the spat.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
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
In the hallway during an afternoon break, two jurors could be overheard comparing their own less-than-stellar interactions with their children to an episode in which Karen pulled over on the side of the highway and told Kaley to get out of the car.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Colt overheard this on speaker, which put a rift in his relationship with his mother, Gray said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Kizer – their father – was on the phone with her and overheard parts of the spat.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overheard
Verb
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In their mostly white school district, Black students routinely heard racial slurs.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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According to police dispatch audio obtained by Fox News Digital, approximately 10 gunshots were heard near Rihanna’s residence in Beverly Hills.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez , Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The moon's immense shadow was also spied by South Korea's GEO-KOMPSAT-2A weather satellite from its perch 22,370 miles (36,000 km) above Earth in geostationary orbit, close to the shadowy line of the night-day terminator.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rachel contacted Shelia while FBI agents monitored the conversation using hidden cameras.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
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The second method is installing below-ground bait systems every 10 to 20 feet around a building; the stations are monitored regularly for activity.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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