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 →

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 →
• In the story, the boy overheard the pirates' plan. tree →
• Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. tree →
• Speak quietly so you are not overheard. tree →
• She overheard her name in the staff room. tree →
• The spy overheard the soldiers talking. tree →
• We overheard the teacher say there would be a quiz. tree →
• This time they could not prevent him overhearing. tree →

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.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «overhear» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.