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
The children overheard them having an argument inside of the room.
—
Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 23 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
Among the options the senators could be overheard discussing were a very short stopgap bill while an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies is negotiated.
—Jamie Tarabay, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Brian continues to apologize, but Murtagh isn’t hearing it, and soon Balloch — who, by the way, overheard at least part of that conversation — beckons Brian and Murtagh back into the church.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 12 Sep. 2025
Didi, divorced, learns her daughter won’t be with her that evening — a phone call overheard by Cliff.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
That's bad news for Arizonans hoping to catch a sight of the spacecraft soaring overheard, but those willing to make a trip to the launch site in the neighboring state will still be treated to an incredible view of the Falcon 9 blasting off from the ground.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 23 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
Among the options the senators could be overheard discussing were a very short stopgap bill while an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies is negotiated.
—Jamie Tarabay, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Brian continues to apologize, but Murtagh isn’t hearing it, and soon Balloch — who, by the way, overheard at least part of that conversation — beckons Brian and Murtagh back into the church.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 12 Sep. 2025
Didi, divorced, learns her daughter won’t be with her that evening — a phone call overheard by Cliff.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
That's bad news for Arizonans hoping to catch a sight of the spacecraft soaring overheard, but those willing to make a trip to the launch site in the neighboring state will still be treated to an incredible view of the Falcon 9 blasting off from the ground.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overheard
Verb
-
This old bloke from the Tanami remembered the gold rush days, and probably heard stories about eating Chinamen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Astronomers spied the bare black hole using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — a mega-instrument built by NASA and its partners in part to reveal how galaxies formed during the universe’s first billion years.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even water usage is monitored through precision irrigation systems that maximize efficiency while protecting regional ecosystems.—
William Jones,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Prince of Whales emphasized that the encounter came as a surprise, since the whale was not being actively monitored at the time.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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