The Verb "Overhear" – Meaning and Usage

The verb "overhear" combines "over-" (indicating unintentional or accidental occurrence) with "hear," and it describes the act of unintentionally hearing someone else's conversation or remarks.
Primary Meaning:

To accidentally or unintentionally hear a conversation or statement not intended for the listener.
This typically occurs without deliberate effort or intention to eavesdrop.

    Example: "She overheard her colleagues discussing the surprise party."

Grammatical Forms:

    Base form: overhear

    Past tense: overheard

    Past participle: overheard

This makes "overhear" an irregular verb, with identical forms for past tense and past participle.
Synonyms:

    Catch (as in catching a conversation)

    Eavesdrop (but intentionally, thus slightly different)

    Hear accidentally

Usage Contexts:

    Casual Situations:
    Commonly used when someone accidentally hears parts of a conversation, often in public places or offices.

        "I overheard them mentioning your name in the hallway."

    Sensitive or Private Conversations:
    Frequently appears in contexts involving accidental exposure to private or confidential information.

        "She accidentally overheard sensitive details during the phone call."

Additional Notes:

    Unlike "eavesdrop," which implies deliberate listening, "overhear" emphasizes accidental hearing without intent.

    It is commonly used in everyday conversation, literature, and film, typically carrying a sense of unintended discovery or revelation.