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
Degorski had told an ex-girlfriend of his role in the killings, and a friend who overheard her talking about it in 2002 went to police.
—
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 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
On a Monday night, The Keefer Bar, a long, narrow gem that holds maybe 70 inside, buzzed with laughter and conversations the layout guaranteed would be overheard.
—Todd Harmonson, Oc Register, 3 Dec. 2025
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 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
On a Monday night, The Keefer Bar, a long, narrow gem that holds maybe 70 inside, buzzed with laughter and conversations the layout guaranteed would be overheard.
—Todd Harmonson, Oc Register, 3 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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Additionally, the police source said Nick must be escorted by a sergeant at all times and is monitored with a video camera that is attached to his escorting officer.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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Researchers monitored more than 2,000 people for an average of 12 days to track their rest and rhythm activities.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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