overhearverb [ I or T ]
uk/ˌəʊ.vəˈhɪər/us/ˌoʊ.vɚˈhɪr/overheard, overheardC2 to hear what other people are saying without intending to and without their knowledge:
I overheard a very funny conversation on the bus this morning.
[ + obj + -ing verb ] He overheard his daughter telling her doll not to be so naughty.
[ + obj + infinitive without to ] We overheard them say that they didn't really like the food.
I'm sorry, I couldn't help overhearing.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Using the ears
- audio
- auditory
- be all ears idiom
- ear
- earshot
- eavesdrop
- hark at sb! idiom
- hear
- hearer
- hearken
- lend
- lend an ear idiom
- listen
- listen in on sth/sb
- mishear
- pin
- pin back your ears idiom
- prick
- prick (sth) up
- read my lips idiom
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