OVERHEARS Meaning and
Definition
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The term "overhears" is a verb that refers to the act of unintentionally or secretly listening to a conversation or hearing someone's remarks without their knowledge. It typically involves an individual inadvertently perceiving the words spoken by others due to their close proximity or because they were not aiming to eavesdrop intentionally. The act of overhearing often occurs when someone is nearby a conversation between two or more people, and they become privy to the information exchanged without the participants realizing it. This can happen in various settings, such as public spaces, workplaces, social gatherings, or even within a household.
Overhearing can be perceived as both accidental and surreptitious, as it involves unintentionally acquiring information that was not intended for one's ears. The person who overhears is typically an unintended audience, and their presence is unknown or disregarded by the individuals engaged in the conversation. Consequently, the act of overhearing can provide unexpected insights or information about a topic or situation that the listener would not have obtained otherwise.
It is worth noting that overhearing is often associated with an element of secrecy or the infringement upon the privacy of others. While the information gathered through overhearing can sometimes be harmless or inconsequential, it is crucial to respect others' privacy and avoid intentionally eavesdropping on conversations that are meant to be private.
Common Misspellings for OVERHEARS
Etymology of OVERHEARS
The word "overhears" is derived from the verb "overhear". Here is the etymology of the word:
- "Over" comes from the Middle English word "overe", which originated from Old English "ufor" meaning "above" or "over".
- "Hear" comes from the Old English word "hieran", which means "to hear" or "to perceive by the ear".
Therefore, "overhear" combines these two elements to describe the act of unintentionally or secretly hearing something that was not intended for one's ears.
Similar spelling words for OVERHEARS
Conjugate verb Overhears
CONDITIONAL
I
would overhear
we
would overhear
you
would overhear
he/she/it
would overhear
they
would overhear
FUTURE
I
will overhear
we
will overhear
you
will overhear
he/she/it
will overhear
they
will overhear
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have overheard
we
will have overheard
you
will have overheard
he/she/it
will have overheard
they
will have overheard
PAST
I
overheard
we
overheard
you
overheard
he/she/it
overheard
they
overheard
PAST PERFECT
I
had overheard
we
had overheard
you
had overheard
he/she/it
had overheard
they
had overheard
PRESENT
I
overhear
we
overhear
you
overhear
he/she/it
overhears
they
overhear
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have overheard
we
have overheard
you
have overheard
he/she/it
has overheard
they
have overheard
I
am overhearing
we
are overhearing
you
are overhearing
he/she/it
is overhearing
they
are overhearing
I
was overhearing
we
were overhearing
you
were overhearing
he/she/it
was overhearing
they
were overhearing
I
will be overhearing
we
will be overhearing
you
will be overhearing
he/she/it
will be overhearing
they
will be overhearing
I
have been overhearing
we
have been overhearing
you
have been overhearing
he/she/it
has been overhearing
they
have been overhearing
I
had been overhearing
we
had been overhearing
you
had been overhearing
he/she/it
had been overhearing
they
had been overhearing
I
will have been overhearing
we
will have been overhearing
you
will have been overhearing
he/she/it
will have been overhearing
they
will have been overhearing
I
would have overheard
we
would have overheard
you
would have overheard
he/she/it
would have overheard
they
would have overheard
I
would be overhearing
we
would be overhearing
you
would be overhearing
he/she/it
would be overhearing
they
would be overhearing
I
would have been overhearing
we
would have been overhearing
you
would have been overhearing
he/she/it
would have been overhearing
they
would have been overhearing
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