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Synonyms for overhear


Grammar : Verb
Spell : oh-ver-heer
Phonetic Transcription : ˌoʊ vərˈhɪər

Top 10 synonyms for overhear Other synonyms for the word overhear

Définition of overhear

Origin :
  • "to hear what one is not meant to hear," 1540s, from over- + hear. The notion is perhaps "to hear beyond the intended range of the voice." Old English oferhieran also meant "to not listen, to disregard, disobey" (cf. overlook for negative force of over; also Middle High German überhaeren, Middle Dutch overhoren in same sense). Related: Overheard; overhearing.
  • As in listen : verb hear and pay attention
  • As in bug : verb listen to without permission
  • As in hearken : verb hear
  • As in eavesdrop : verb listen without permission
  • As in hear : verb detect by perceiving sound
Example sentences :
  • Wishing to know what they were up to, I stole slyly to where I could overhear their proceedings.
  • Extract from : « Southern Lights and Shadows » by Various
  • Not another word of this just now, or they may overhear us.'
  • Extract from : « Barnaby Rudge » by Charles Dickens
  • He was glad to be thus isolated—he could overhear no criticism or comments.
  • Extract from : « Cleo The Magnificent » by Louis Zangwill
  • He tried to overhear their conversation but it was in a language which he did not recognize.
  • Extract from : « Poisoned Air » by Sterner St. Paul Meek
  • Then you must tell him, of course, even if you did overhear.
  • Extract from : « Joy (First Series Plays) » by John Galsworthy
  • Yet I do believe that it was His will that I should come to overhear what is being plotted.
  • Extract from : « The Historical Nights Entertainment, Second Series » by Rafael Sabatini
  • Their tone and manner were what you say,—so much so that I went away, not to overhear them.
  • Extract from : « Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I. » by Charles James Lever
  • The deliberation was a long, and, as I could overhear, a strongly disputed one.
  • Extract from : « Maurice Tiernay Soldier of Fortune » by Charles James Lever
  • Owing to the distance from his wife it could not have been possible for her to overhear these words.
  • Extract from : « Telepathy » by W. W. Baggally
  • It would do your master great injury were he to overhear them.
  • Extract from : « The Daltons, Volume I (of II) » by Charles James Lever

Antonyms for overhear

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019