[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/overhear.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / overhear

[← O](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/O/)

# overhear

«overhear» in Mova's school dictionary: **to hear what other people are saying without them…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (overhear, overhears, overheard, overhearing)

### meaning for a pupil

To overhear something is to hear what other people are saying without them knowing, or without meaning to listen. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#m1)

### sense in the lessons

In stories, a character often overhears a secret plan and the adventure begins. In everyday life you might overhear grown-ups talking; listening on purpose is eavesdropping. Phrases: «overhear a conversation», «I couldn't help overhearing», «be overheard».

### examples

- I overheard Mum planning my surprise party. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x1)
- In the story, the boy overheard the pirates' plan. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x2)
- Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x3)
- Speak quietly so you are not overheard. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x4)
- She overheard her name in the staff room. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x5)
- The spy overheard the soldiers talking. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x6)
- We overheard the teacher say there would be a quiz. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x7)
- This time they could not prevent him overhearing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/#x8)

### note

Irregular verb: overhear, overheard, overheard (like hear, heard). Overhearing is usually by accident; «eavesdropping» is listening on purpose.

### In the corpora

- [Then he overheard his aunties talking.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/519-parents-far-away-the-army-work-abroad-prison/38/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «overhear» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overhear/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.