eavesdropping

noun

eaves·​drop·​ping ˈēvz-ˌdrä-piŋ How to pronounce eavesdropping (audio)
: the act of secretly listening to something private
Highly sophisticated means of electronic eavesdropping were developed and put into use, largely uncontrolled by the law.Wayne R. LaFave & Jerold H. Israel
For a moment, I was worried he'd found out about my eavesdropping the night before, but that didn't seem to be the problem.Rick Riordan

Examples of eavesdropping in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Later, Marlinspike met with the company’s other cofounder, Jan Koum, who had grown up in Soviet Ukraine under the constant threat of KGB eavesdropping. Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 31 July 2016 Instead, expect closed-door negotiations where no one’s eavesdropping. Greg Engle, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 Telecommunications firms have a legal obligation to allow federal authorities to have access to electronic information if there is a court order for the eavesdropping. Dan De Luce, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2024 Overhead imagery exposed Russia's buildup on its border with Ukraine, for example, and later aided the identification of electronic eavesdropping stations in Cuba. Colin Demarest, Axios, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for eavesdropping 

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eavesdropping was in 1641

Dictionary Entries Near eavesdropping

Cite this Entry

“Eavesdropping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eavesdropping. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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