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Definition of overhear verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

overhear

verb
 
/ˌəʊvəˈhɪə(r)/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈhɪr/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they overhear
 
/ˌəʊvəˈhɪə(r)/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈhɪr/
he / she / it overhears
 
/ˌəʊvəˈhɪəz/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈhɪrz/
past simple overheard
 
/ˌəʊvəˈhɜːd/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈhɜːrd/
past participle overheard
 
/ˌəʊvəˈhɜːd/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈhɜːrd/
-ing form overhearing
 
/ˌəʊvəˈhɪərɪŋ/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈhɪrɪŋ/
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  1. to hear, especially by accident, a conversation in which you are not involved
    • overhear somebody/something I overheard a conversation between two boys on the bus.
    • We talked quietly so as not to be overheard.
    • overhear somebody doing something We overheard them arguing.
    • overhear somebody do something I overheard him say he was going to France.
    compare eavesdrop
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • accidentally
    phrases
    • couldn’t help overhearing something
    See full entry
See overhear in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
indeed
adverb
 
 
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OPAL spoken words
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