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.
See Examples For:
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
One can opt to be a relatively passive observer trying to overhear conversations and uncover the various storylines.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2025
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
For a little while she wondered if they were hanging around, to overhear something.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
Nearby, 40-year-old Masoumeh overhears our conversation and joins in.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
It is she who ensures Heathcliff overhears Cathy as she laments how marrying him would degrade her, causing him to flee Wuthering Heights and leave Cathy to marry Edgar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
When she overhears a man clearing his throat, the jig is up.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2023
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
“Word has it,” Marie-Laure overhears one taxidermist telling another, “the stone is from Japan, it’s very ancient, it belonged to a shogun in the eleventh century.”
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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
“Why are you so distracted, Matilda?” she hissed, looking around to see if we were overheard.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
A tipster in the southern U.S. recalled overhearing a conversation that seemed to connect a local woman to the pipe bombs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 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
“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
Suddenly the customer at the next table over, overhearing the conversation, leaned over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2024
He didn’t fully understand what he was overhearing, but he didn’t like the sound of it at all.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
