eavesdrop

verb
UK: /ˈiːvzdrɒp/
US: /ˈiːvzdrɑːp/

  1. To secretly listen to a private conversation.

    1. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard what you said.
    2. They used a device to eavesdrop on the politician's private phone calls.

  2. To listen secretly to a conversation that you are not supposed to hear, often to gain information.

    1. She was eavesdrop on her neighbors, trying to learn their secrets.
    2. It's not polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversations even in public.

Synonyms

overhear spy listen in monitor
eavesdrop noun

  1. The act of secretly listening to a conversation.

    1. The police used eavesdrop to gather the evidence.
    2. The detective's eavesdrop revealed critical information about the crime.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "eavesdrop" in English means: To secretly listen to a private conversation., To listen secretly to a conversation that you are not supposed to hear, often to gain information..

The phonetic transcription of "eavesdrop" is /ˈiːvzdrɒp/ in British English and /ˈiːvzdrɑːp/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "eavesdrop": overhear, spy, listen in, monitor.

Example usage of "eavesdrop": "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard what you said.". More examples on the page.