Words / B2

ohv-uh-HEER/ˌəʊvəˈhɪə/

To overhear is to hear what people are saying without them meaning you to listen: overhear a conversation; overheard saying. Hear is general; eavesdrop (already a taken id) is deliberate secret listening; earshot (this batch) is the distance. An overheard line in the play still needs the speaker and the line number. Mix-up: overhear vs overlook; overhear vs over here; do not write overhear for a public tannoy announcement meant for everyone.

Meaning

To hear what people are saying without them meaning you to listen.

Examples

• “An overheard line in the play still needs the speaker and the line number.”
• “Witnesses overheard the row, which is still a named place — quote whether they were in earshot.”

Good to know

overhear a conversation / remark; overheard saying. Close: catch (speech). Deliberate twin: eavesdrop. Distance: earshot (this batch). Trap: overlook / a tannoy for all. English, drama, and citizenship. Unintended hearing — name who spoke and who heard.

Near in meaning

catch, hear by chance, pick up

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