overhear

Verb

Verb Forms: overheard, overhearing, overhears

To hear something without the speaker's knowledge.
hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
- "We overheard the conversation at the next table"
To hear something that was not meant for one's ears.

Examples

I tried to overhear the opponent’s strategy discussion, but they spoke too softly.
I was hanging clothes in the garden and I overheard the neighbours talking about Sheila's pregnancy.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English overheren, from Old English oferhīeran (“to overhear, hear, disobey, disregard, neglect”), equivalent to over- + hear. Cognate with Dutch overhoren (“to hear, hear about”), German überhören (“to not hear, ignore”), Danish overhøre (“to overhear”), Icelandic yfirheyra (“to hear”), Gothic *𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂𐌷𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (*ufarhausjan, “to disregard, disobey”) (in 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂𐌷𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (ufarhauseins)).

Synonyms

catch, take in

Scrabble Score: 14

overhear: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
overhear: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
overhear: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

overhear: valid Words With Friends Word