overhear

Imagine you're walking down a hallway and accidentally catch bits of a conversation from another room. That is what it means. It involves hearing something that was not meant for you, without trying to listen on purpose. Unlike eavesdropping, which is a deliberate choice, this usually happens by accident. You might catch gossip at a coffee shop or important news while waiting in line. Sometimes what you hear can be surprising, funny, or awkward.

To overhear means to hear something that is not meant for you, usually a conversation between other people. It is different from active listening because it suggests that you heard it by accident. You were not trying to tune in. It is like catching words as they drift past you.

The context is important. You might catch a secret plan while waiting at the bus stop, or hear your parents talking about a surprise party from the next room. The word is often used when someone learns something unexpectedly. For example, "I overheard them talking about layoffs at work" suggests that the speaker was not meant to be part of that private discussion.

It can also carry a slight sense of awkwardness. If you intentionally listen to a private conversation, that is called eavesdropping, which is usually seen as rude. But this just happens. It is a passive act, a chance meeting with someone else's words. So if your ears pick up something that was not meant for you, and you were not trying to listen, that is exactly what this word describes.