overheard

A child overheard her parents planning a surprise birthday party.

Definition

1. Verb (past tense of ):
   • To hear something without the speaker's intention or knowledge: "overheard" means to have accidentally or secretly listened to a conversation or remark that was not directed at you.
   • To catch an utterance unintentionally: It describes the act of perceiving spoken words that were meant for someone else, often in a public or semi-private setting.

Usage Examples

• (I unintentionally heard a discussion that was not meant for me.)
• (She secretly listened to a conversation about a secret event.)
• (They accidentally heard a reprimand that was not addressed to them.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be overheard saying something": to be heard by someone who was not intended to hear.

  • The politician was overheard making a controversial remark. (Someone secretly heard the politician's statement.)

• "overheard in passing": to catch a fragment of a conversation while moving through a space.

  • I overheard in passing that the company is merging. (I caught a brief part of a conversation as I walked by.)

Variants and Related Words

• Overhear (verb, present tense): to hear accidentally or secretly.

  • If you stand near the door, you might overhear their plans. (You might listen unintentionally.)

• Overhearing (present participle): the act of accidentally hearing.

  • Overhearing their whispers made me uncomfortable. (The act of unintentionally listening.)

• Overheard (adjective, rarely used): describing something that was heard unintentionally.

  • The overheard conversation was full of gossip. (The conversation that was accidentally heard.)

Synonyms

• Eavesdropped on: to secretly listen to a private conversation (more intentional than "overheard").
• Caught: to hear a part of something unexpectedly.
  • I caught a snippet of their talk. (I heard a fragment.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Overhear (no common phrasal verbs): The verb "overhear" is usually used as a simple transitive verb without particles.

Related Idioms

• "Lend an ear": to listen carefully (often intentionally, contrasting with "overheard").

  • I didn't mean to overhear; I just happened to lend an ear. (I accidentally listened.)

• "Walls have ears": a warning that conversations can be secretly heard.

  • Be careful what you say—overheard words can spread. (Unintentionally heard remarks can travel.)