From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishoverhearo‧ver‧hear /ˌəʊvəˈhɪə $ ˌoʊvərˈhɪr/ ●○○ verb (past tense and past participle overheard /-ˈhɜːd $ -ˈhɜːrd/) [transitive] HEARto accidentally hear what other people are saying, when they do not know that you have heard I overheard part of their conversation.overhear somebody saying something She overheard the management discussing pay rises.overhear somebody say (that) We overheard the teacher say there would be a pop quiz today. I couldn’t help overhearing your argument.► see thesaurus at hear → eavesdrop→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
overhear• She claims to have overheard an argument between the President and the First Lady.• an overheard conversation• A fellow trader talking to another thrift president on another line overheard DiNapoli and cracked up.• Marc was gazing out of the window, but he couldn't help overhearing her side of the conversation.• We overheard Jenny and her friends talking about their boyfriends last night.• Their strategy was overheard on a police scanner that was able to intercept cellular phone transmissions.• Anyone who overhears or intercepts the key in transit can later read all encrypted messages using that key.• I think I must have overheard telephone conversations about Margarett getting drunk and late-night parties at Prides.• Rostov wondered if the Manchu had overheard the conversation, but he gave no sign.• Claire, who was outside the door, overheard their conversation.• I couldn't help overhearing you and Jim last night - is something wrong?overhear somebody say (that)• Mr Mynott said that, apparently, neither minister realised that they had been overheard.• I overheard him say that he lost his desire, lost his drive and everything. 