Skip to main content
overhearer

overhearer

7.9
A person who hears a conversation without taking part
  • noun
  • /ˌoʊvərˈhɪrər/
translation icon : oyente
  • As an overhearer, she learned many secrets she wasn't meant to know.

Examples

  • Some remarks may be primarily intended for the overhearer (whom Gerrig terms the "side-participant" to distinguish this communicative position from an unintended or deliberately excluded "overhearer" 106).

    Academic text (2002)
  • Whenever a conversation takes place before a third party, for example, the speakers will ordinarily tailor their remarks to take the presence of an overhearer into account (104).

    Academic text (2002)
  • Some remarks may be primarily intended for the overhearer (whom Gerrig terms the "side-participant" to distinguish this communicative position from an unintended or deliberately excluded "overhearer" 106).

    Academic text (2002)
  • The overhearer found out about the surprise party while waiting in the café.

  • He felt like an overhearer when he accidentally listened in on his friends' conversation.

Synonyms

listener
vsoverhearer
228 1.0

A person who pays attention and hears what others say

is present but not directly addressed or taking part
hearer
vsoverhearer
7 2.8

A person who listens carefully to what someone says

is present yet not directly addressed or involved

Antonyms

295 2.4

A person who joins an activity or event

How Intentional

eavesdropper
4 6.1
listener
228 1.0
overhearer
7.9
bystander
84 3.4

Surface Forms

overhearer singular
overhearers plural

Morphology

overhearer = overhear (transparent) = overhear + er

Agent noun formed by adding the productive suffix '-er' to the verb 'overhear', which itself is transparently 'over' + 'hear' meaning to hear unintentionally.

Etymology

The word overhearer comes from over- ('above' or 'beyond') and hear ('to listen'), so imagine someone standing near a conversation and catching what is said. That's why an overhearer is a person who hears information by chance without being part of the talk.