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Webster 1913 Edition

Overhear

Oˊver-hear′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Overheard
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Overhearing
.]
[AS.
oferhiéran
.]
1.
To hear more of (anything) than was intended to be heard; to hear by accident or artifice.
Shak.
2.
To hear again.
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Overhear

OVERHE'AR

,
Verb.
T.
To hear by accident; to hear what is not addressed to the hearer, or not intended to be heard by him.

Definition 2025

overhear

overhear

English

Verb

overhear ‎(third-person singular simple present overhears, present participle overhearing, simple past and past participle overheard)

  1. To hear something that wasn't meant for one's ears.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

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”).

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /oʊ.vɚ.hɪɚ/
  • Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

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