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
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Recent Examples of overheard
On June 20, 1940, someone told the night policeman, Tip Hunter, that Elbert Williams, a relative of Elisha Davis, had been overheard proposing a meeting between the Brownsville and Jackson NAACP branches.
—
Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Jim MacDonald, a commercial fisherman, had overheard radio transmissions between the Fitzgerald and the Anderson the night of the disaster.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
But Jennings, who overheard that conversation, agreed to answer questions.
—Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2025
According to the post, the woman immediately overheard her seatmate’s displeasure.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Deputies and K-9s searched the area, collected evidence and interviewed nearby residents and employees at businesses who may have witnessed or overheard the attack.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
The narrator and her friend seem slightly embarrassed at the possibility of being overheard—seeing the couple perhaps reminds them that Americans are not simply an idea on a page or in a newspaper headline, but actual people.
—Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Just behind him, while packing up his things, receiver Tyquan Thornton overheard Worthy talking and spoke up — loud enough so the microphones could hear him.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Until, that is, Curry overheard a woman on the bus and had a lightbulb moment.
—Katherine Turman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Jim MacDonald, a commercial fisherman, had overheard radio transmissions between the Fitzgerald and the Anderson the night of the disaster.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
But Jennings, who overheard that conversation, agreed to answer questions.
—Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2025
According to the post, the woman immediately overheard her seatmate’s displeasure.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Deputies and K-9s searched the area, collected evidence and interviewed nearby residents and employees at businesses who may have witnessed or overheard the attack.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
The narrator and her friend seem slightly embarrassed at the possibility of being overheard—seeing the couple perhaps reminds them that Americans are not simply an idea on a page or in a newspaper headline, but actual people.
—Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Just behind him, while packing up his things, receiver Tyquan Thornton overheard Worthy talking and spoke up — loud enough so the microphones could hear him.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Until, that is, Curry overheard a woman on the bus and had a lightbulb moment.
—Katherine Turman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overheard
Verb
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Democrats may also face a challenge from a case before the Supreme Court, which heard first in October, and a second set or oral arguments in early November.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The film’s title may be overstated, but there’s no denying the way the song’s message about longing, separation, and regret affected an inordinately wide range of people who heard it.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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McCann spied an errant pumpkin.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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The relative then spied a dead dog on an interstate nearby, and assumed the canine was Randy since both dogs had the same shading.—
TJ Macias,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To date, none of the criminal complaints filed in this case mention any anti-gay text messages, social media posts or comments made by the defendants, whose communications were being secretly monitored and taped by undercover informants and agents.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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The scrub came as Blue Origin's launch team monitored cloud cover rolling into the area, which ultimately foiled the liftoff attempt.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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