overheard

verb

past tense of overhear
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overheard Somehow the staff overheard us. — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 The racist comment was overheard by students and reported to school staff, but the lawsuit alleges school officials did little to address it. — Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026 TowBoatUS also overheard the report and offered to stand by. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 Libertyville senior shortstop Trevor Wallace, who had just popped out and returned to the dugout to cheer for Holmes, overheard two teammates talking. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026 Their path to the iconic series began almost by accident after a family friend overheard a casting call for twin girls and connected their father with the opportunity. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026 Police interviewed other witnesses, including a neighbor, who overheard the beating. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 23 June 2026 The two were walking around the Hotel Royal in Evian-les-Bains, France, when the conversation was overheard by astute observers. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026 As a bald eagle named Indy occasionally screeched at an offending hawk that flew overheard, speakers talked about the time capsule as a message to future generations about Americans’ hopes, values and lives in 2025. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overheard
  1. heard
  2. spied
  3. monitored
Verb
  • Video footage of the dogs at Dingo Doggies Campus shows the pups walking on treadmills, training in the gym and relaxing on beds while booms and fireworks sounds can be heard in the background.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
Definition of heard
Verb
  • Glimmers of this optimism could be spied in the FOMC’s statement, issued ahead of Warsh’s press conference.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 June 2026
  • There, golden bamboo is freshly planted, new curvilinear furniture is featured, high tea is served and Mount Fuji can be spied in the jaw-dropping panoramas on clear days.
    — Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Definition of spied
Verb
  • During its week-long test this past March, engineering teams monitored ERNEST across several navigational scenarios, including traveling at night and other poor lighting conditions to simulate certain lunar environments.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 5 July 2026
  • However, this robust growth was belied by declines in median wealth in most of the 56 markets monitored by UBS, pointing to a growing wealth gap.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of monitored

Browse Nearby Words

overhear
overheard
overhearing
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Cite this Entry

“Overheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overheard. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on overheard

Nglish: Translation of overheard for Spanish Speakers

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