listen in
verb
listened in; listening in; listens in
1
: to tune in to or monitor a broadcast
2
: to listen to a conversation without participating in it
especially
: eavesdrop
Examples of listen in in a Sentence
it's not polite to listen in on other people's private conversations
Recent Examples on the Web
The Military Intelligence Directorate had stopped listening in real time to Hamas walkie-talkies.
—
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Bar Tab Taran Dugal listens in at a chic Greenpoint lounge.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025
On his way to the meeting, Matt uses his enhanced hearing to listen in on conversations about how people feel about Fisk.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Harry is a man who listens in because joining in isn’t an option.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen in
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.
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Bar Tab Taran Dugal listens in at a chic Greenpoint lounge.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025
On his way to the meeting, Matt uses his enhanced hearing to listen in on conversations about how people feel about Fisk.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Harry is a man who listens in because joining in isn’t an option.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen in
Cite this Entry
“Listen in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen%20in. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share