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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She said it’s more irritating, for instance, to overhear social-media videos than to witness a face-to-face conversation at the same volume, because “personal listening devices are supposed to be personal.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 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 man in the grey suit leans forward and whispers something in her ear, too low for her father to overhear.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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
And the plot goes out of its way to bolster that mistrust through a series of worrisome conversation snippets that she overhears.
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
He overhears someone in the line saying the chickpeas have gone bad.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Obesity-medicine doctor Dr. Angela Fitch recalled a time when she overheard prospective patients discussing the drug over breakfast.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
The following morning, on the train back to London, people could be overheard complimenting the play and discussing its big revelations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
She only learned about the reintroduction plan after asking rangers about discussions she had overheard.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
While sitting in the intensive care unit, Martin overheard another mother mention her daughter had the same condition.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
I overheard Dad call Mrs. Williams and tell her I’m not feeling good.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
The court heard that Morgan had been deemed a "high risk to others and to himself" after overhearing conversations that took place since he has been in custody.
From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2026
“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
“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
I learned my first words of English overhearing my parents speak to strangers.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
