eavesdrop (on)

verb

ˈēvz-ˌdräp How to pronounce eavesdrop (on) (audio)
Definition of eavesdrop (on)next
as in to listen in (on)
to listen to (another in private conversation) a nosy traveler who likes to eavesdrop on his fellow airline passengers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eavesdrop (on)
  1. monitor
  2. hear
  3. spy
  4. overhear
Verb
  • Polio vaccines have been extensively studied and monitored for close to 70 years.
    Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Healthcare providers will closely monitor people taking these drugs to detect any early hearing loss.14 The aminoglycoside drugs carrying a high risk of tinnitus include:14 Amikacin Neomycin Kanamycin Tobramycin 8.
    Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of monitor
Verb
  • The low, squelching funk of the beat and Richman’s high falsetto were tuned to such a uniquely perfect frequency that everyone was happy to hear them, again and again, and again.
    Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
  • Occasionally there are people who are not gracious or not as willing to hear other perspectives.
    Kimberly A. Whitler, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Definition of hear
Verb
  • From spy balloons over South Carolina to spy bases in Cuba, China in particular is demonstrating its growing ability to hold the U.S. homeland at risk.
    Todd Harrison, TIME, 7 Dec. 2024
  • The report also claimed that the investigative authorities are not ruling out the possibility that China sent Communist Party members to spy in South Korea.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Definition of spy
Verb
  • And that’s when William overhears the news that Jamie is his biological father.
    Lincee Ray, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
  • There are other things, too, like easily finding gender-neutral bathrooms — a logistical nightmare back home — and overhearing, for the first time, they/them pronouns used in casual conversation.
    The Editors, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2024
Definition of overhear
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near eavesdrop (on)

eat (up)

eavesdrop (on)

eavesdropped (on)

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Eavesdrop (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eavesdrop%20%28on%29. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...