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
Singer Sam Smith is reportedly engaged to British designer Christian Cowan, according to a source who allegedly overheard the couple discussing their betrothal in the lobby of a Manhattan hotel.
—
Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Sakeena was standing nearby and overheard much of the conversation.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
Unbeknownst to me, a manager overheard our conversation.
—Charleen Richey, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Police said at the time of Berera’s arrest that the girl’s boyfriend overheard a lewd conversation between her and Berera and notified her mother, who called police.
—Nate Gartrell, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Police said at the time of Berera’s arrest that the girl’s boyfriend overheard a lewd conversation between her and Berera and notified her mother, who called police.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Kelsey Pomeroy once overheard her husband bragging about her to one of his engineering coworkers.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The calls, according to people who overheard them, were not always amicable.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
In a now-viral clip, Carpenter overheard someone from the crowd trilling during her set for Weekend 1 and asked if the audience member was yodeling.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Sakeena was standing nearby and overheard much of the conversation.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
Unbeknownst to me, a manager overheard our conversation.
—Charleen Richey, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Police said at the time of Berera’s arrest that the girl’s boyfriend overheard a lewd conversation between her and Berera and notified her mother, who called police.
—Nate Gartrell, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Police said at the time of Berera’s arrest that the girl’s boyfriend overheard a lewd conversation between her and Berera and notified her mother, who called police.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Kelsey Pomeroy once overheard her husband bragging about her to one of his engineering coworkers.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The calls, according to people who overheard them, were not always amicable.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
In a now-viral clip, Carpenter overheard someone from the crowd trilling during her set for Weekend 1 and asked if the audience member was yodeling.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overheard
Verb
-
Before last year, Cecilia Alemani, the chief curator at the High Line, had never heard of—much less seen—a pigeon diaper.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
When House Bill 1359, which addressed scanning early voting ballots, was heard in the Senate Elections committee this year, the bill was amended to decrease early voting from 28 days to 16 days.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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For years, the rover ascended a feature called Mount Sharp within the crater, aiming to reach clay-rich layers that orbiters circling the planet had spied.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And Mindi said at one point she was being spied upon.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In those policies, residents can be reminded that the cameras are not continuously monitored (if that is the case) and assured that no neighbors have access to the recordings.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
In addition to going door to door, law enforcement officials used helicopters, drones and monitored surveillance footage during their investigation, CBS News reported.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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