Words / B2

EERSH-ot/ˈɪəʃɒt/

Earshot is the distance within which you can hear someone (usually uncountable): within earshot; out of earshot. Hearing range is a paraphrase; overhear (this batch) is the verb of catching speech. Witnesses within earshot still need the named distance if the source gives it. Mix-up: earshot vs eyeshot; earshot vs overshoot; do not write earshot for a recorded call with no live hearing distance.

Meaning

The distance within which you can hear someone (within / out of earshot).

Examples

• “Witnesses within earshot still need the named distance if the source gives it.”
• “They waited until they were out of earshot, which is the privacy sense — still name who might have heard.”

Good to know

within / out of earshot. Verb cousin: overhear (this batch). Trap: eyeshot / a recording with no live range. Drama, citizenship, and English. Hearing distance — name who could hear, or the metres if given.

Near in meaning

hearing range, hearing distance, audible range

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