Nominal Forms
Infinitive: to overhear
Participle: overheard
Gerund: overhearing
Indicative
Present
| I | overhear |
| you | overhear |
| he;she;it | overhears |
| we | overhear |
| you | overhear |
| they | overhear |
Perfect
| I | have overheard |
| you | have overheard |
| he;she;it | has overheard |
| we | have overheard |
| you | have overheard |
| they | have overheard |
Past
| I | overheard |
| you | overheard |
| he;she;it | overheard |
| we | overheard |
| you | overheard |
| they | overheard |
Pluperfect
| I | had overheard |
| you | had overheard |
| he;she;it | had overheard |
| we | had overheard |
| you | had overheard |
| they | had overheard |
Future
| I | will overhear |
| you | will overhear |
| he;she;it | will overhear |
| we | will overhear |
| you | will overhear |
| they | will overhear |
Future Perfect
| I | will have overheard |
| you | will have overheard |
| he;she;it | will have overheard |
| we | will have overheard |
| you | will have overheard |
| they | will have overheard |
Subjunctive
Present
| I | overhear |
| you | overhear |
| he;she;it | overhear |
| we | overhear |
| you | overhear |
| they | overhear |
Perfect
| I | have overheard |
| you | have overheard |
| he;she;it | have overheard |
| we | have overheard |
| you | have overheard |
| they | have overheard |
Imperfect
| I | overheard |
| you | overheard |
| he;she;it | overheard |
| we | overheard |
| you | overheard |
| they | overheard |
Pluperfect
| I | had overheard |
| you | had overheard |
| he;she;it | had overheard |
| we | had overheard |
| you | had overheard |
| they | had overheard |
Conditional
Present
| I | would overhear |
| you | would overhear |
| he;she;it | would overhear |
| we | would overhear |
| you | would overhear |
| they | would overhear |
Perfect
| I | would have overheard |
| you | would have overheard |
| he;she;it | would have overheard |
| we | would have overheard |
| you | would have overheard |
| they | would have overheard |
Imperative
| you | overhear |
| we | Let's overhear |
| you | overhear |
Verbs similar to 'overhear'
overbear,
overfear,
overheal,
overheap,
overheat,
overwear,
overclear,
overdeal,
overeat,
overhele,
Synonyms & Antonyms
Additional Information
Phrasal Verbs
Etymology
1. "to hear what one is not meant to hear," 1549, from
over +
hear (q.v.). The notion is perhaps "to hear beyond the intended range of the voice." O.E.
oferhieran meant "to not listen, to disregard, disobey" (cf.
overlook, and M.H.G.
überhaeren, M.Du.
overhoren in same sense).
2. From Middle English overheren, from Old English oferhīeran (“to overhear, hear, disobey, disregard, neglect”), equivalent to over- + hear. Cognate with Dutch overhoren (“to hear, hear about”), German überhören (“to not hear, ignore”), Danish overhøre (“to overhear”), Icelandic yfirheyra (“to hear”), Gothic *𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂𐌷𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (*ufarhausjan, “to disregard, disobey”) (in 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂𐌷𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (ufarhauseins)). See: Dutch '
overhoren', German, old spelling '
überhören', Danish '
overhøre', Icelandic '
yfirheyra'.
Verbs referencing "overhear"
Danish
overhøre, Norwegian
overhøre, Norwegian, nynorsk
overhøyre, German, old spelling
überhören.
Sample Sentences
-
[...] and waited a long time for it; at length it was put upon the table with an apology from the landlord that he feared it was n't ‘fixed properly. ’ And I recollect once, at a stage-coach dinner, overhearing a very stern gentleman demand of a waiter who presented him with a plate of underdone roast-beef, ‘whether he called that, fixing God A’mighty 's vittles ? ’
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
George was standing at the captain's office, settling for his party, when he overheard two men talking by his side.
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
Cassy placed her ear at the knot-hole; and, as the morning air blew directly towards the house, she could overhear a good deal of the conversation. A grave sneer overcast the dark, severe gravity of her face, as she listened, and heard them divide out the ground, discuss the rival merits of the dogs, give orders [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
Cassy, who had glided out of her place of concealment, and, by overhearing, learned the sacrifice that had been made for her and Emmeline, had been there, the night before, defying the danger of detection; and, moved by the last few words which the affectionate soul had [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
Legree could not help overhearing this whispering; and it was all the more exciting to him, from the pains that were taken to conceal it from him. He drank more brandy than usual; held up his head briskly, and swore louder than ever [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)