Word
overhear
Phoneticsover·hear
US/ˈoʊvɝˈhiɹ/
UK/ˌəʊvəhˈiə/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
overhear
Past
overheard
Past participle
overheard
Definition
v. to hear what people around you are saying when they are not talking to you, usually by accident.
v. to perceive speech not directed at the listener, typically unintentionally or without the speakers' knowledge.
Examples
“I often overhear conversations on the busy train.”
“She overheard two colleagues discussing layoffs while waiting for coffee in the break room.”
“Sitting behind the thin partition, he overheard fragments of the negotiation that revealed far more about the company's fears than any official statement ever could.”
Examples
simple
“I often overhear conversations on the busy train.”
contextual
“She overheard two colleagues discussing layoffs while waiting for coffee in the break room.”
complex
“Sitting behind the thin partition, he overheard fragments of the negotiation that revealed far more about the company's fears than any official statement ever could.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “overhear” in context.
Verb
01. happen to overhear
“I happened to overhear that the exam has been postponed.”
verb + to + verb
02. overhear argument
“The neighbours overheard an argument coming from next door.”
verb + noun
03. overhear conversation
“I overheard a conversation about the new manager on the train.”
verb + noun
04. overhear gossip
“He overheard some gossip about the school trip in the corridor.”
verb + noun
05. overhear remark
“She overheard a rude remark about her presentation.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. accidentally overhear
“I accidentally overheard their argument while waiting in the queue.”
adv + verb
07. clearly overhear
“From the next table, we could clearly overhear every word.”
adv + verb
08. easily overhear
“You could easily overhear the neighbours through the thin walls.”
adv + verb
09. couldn't help overhearing
“I couldn't help overhearing your plans for the weekend.”
10. didn't want to be overheard
“They whispered because they didn't want to be overheard.”
11. happen to overhear something
“I happened to overhear something interesting on the bus.”
12. overhear part of a conversation
“We only overheard part of a conversation about the job cuts.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“She advocates transparency in the office — including confronting someone who made comments about your work when they didn’t know you could overhear.” “Organizers have made efforts to respect the confidentiality of confessions, ensuring that pilgrims do not overhear one another's admissions.” “However, upon overhearing her discuss sharing bank information with an unknown individual, she realized it was time for the family to reevaluate their grasp of internet security.” “Simply overhearing something or making sure you’re in a position to listen in can — at times — help you get ahead by forming bonds with colleagues, get a better reading of a manager’s perspective, or decipher the real intent behind a company announcement.” 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)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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