overhear
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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In towns near camps in western Massachusetts, it’s not uncommon to overhear conversations about prep school wait lists and tennis programs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
Sometimes I just watch, trying to melt into a crowd, to overhear conversations, to spot glances and gestures and to see who leads and who follows.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2025
I regularly overhear other birders marveling over the flashy warblers in breeding plumage, while overlooking other comparatively less-flashy birds like vireos and sparrows.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2025
I’m a first-class eavesdropper, and that’s when my chances to overhear juicy morsels are best.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2024
"The inner walls in this building have always been so thin, we couldn't help but overhear."
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
When Elizabeth learns that her cancer has returned, Sophie overhears her parents’ subsequent conversation via a butt-dial from her father’s phone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Nearby, 40-year-old Masoumeh overhears our conversation and joins in.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
When he overhears Jonathan describing him as having, “too much money and no taste,” Ripley feels slighted, which is why he gets Jonathan involved in doing Reeves’ dirty work.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2024
All seems idyllic — until the day Beth, approaching her husband and brother-in-law in a store, overhears Don saying that he doesn’t like her new novel at all, but he can’t tell her.
From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2023
He doesn’t say it quietly enough, though, and María overhears him.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
She only learned about the reintroduction plan after asking rangers about discussions she had overheard.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
She saw that he was receiving additional images and maps from others through texts and Discord messages, and overheard him talking on the phone, according to court filings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
She also recalled how she had found one of her children, aged 10, "curled up at the top of stairs, alone and frightened", having "found out in the worst way possible" through overheard conversations.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
In one office I overheard a press secretary and a chief of staff talking about music.
From Salon ● May 29, 2026
To be honest, I’d been too until I’d overheard Ma gossiping with Togbe.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
“After overhearing a passionate ideological dispute around her own kitchen table between the future Nobel laureate for literature and his radical friends from the University of Chicago, she muttered: ‘Smart, smart, smart.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025
In notes found by Antony in the suitcase, Peter recalled overhearing conversations between his parents, and whispers about Nazi threats.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2025
“It was surreal getting back to work and being on the other side of the stage,” Huntley said, overhearing people talk about the early August show days later.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2025
“Kids are often being exposed to these topics anyway, through their peers, the media and overhearing conversations,” said Wenner Moyer.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2024
As I got out of the van, the driver said, Listen, kid, I couldn’t help overhearing about your brother.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
