eavesdrop
verb
eaves·drop ˈēvz-ˌdräp 
eavesdropped; eavesdropping; eavesdrops
intransitive verb
: to listen secretly to what is said in private
eavesdropper noun
Synonyms
- listen in (on)
- overhear
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Importantly, victims know that at any moment of any day, their phones could be used to spy on their surroundings and eavesdrop on their private conversations. 
Mike Fong, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 The cells of your body constantly eavesdrop on your thoughts from the wings of your mind. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Scientists have used night-vision goggles to show that nocturnal bees can see in extreme darkness, clip-on microphones to eavesdrop on the vibrational songs of leafhoppers, and electrodes to listen in on the pulses of electric fish. Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 13 June 2022 Operators of Pegasus also can remotely activate cameras or microphones to listen directly to conversations, make video or eavesdrop on calls. Washington Post, 18 July 2021 Such software often lets governments read text messages and emails on a smartphone or even force it to eavesdrop on its surroundings. Kevin Collier, NBC News, 6 July 2022 Natacha Aguilar de Soto, a marine biologist at the University of La Laguna, Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands, decided to eavesdrop on local pilot whales during their dives and fitted 23 of them with sound-recording tags. Stephanie Pain, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2022 In a second study of 80 mothers and babies published this past April in Child Development, Brito and her colleagues used electroencephalography (EEG) to eavesdrop on babies' brain waves three months after birth. Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 1 June 2022 That’s an important layer of protection that is often missing from public Wi-Fi networks. Networks in places like hotels and airports are often unsecured, which can allow hackers to eavesdrop on your activities. Lee Mathews, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 See More
Mike Fong, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 The cells of your body constantly eavesdrop on your thoughts from the wings of your mind. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Scientists have used night-vision goggles to show that nocturnal bees can see in extreme darkness, clip-on microphones to eavesdrop on the vibrational songs of leafhoppers, and electrodes to listen in on the pulses of electric fish. Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 13 June 2022 Operators of Pegasus also can remotely activate cameras or microphones to listen directly to conversations, make video or eavesdrop on calls. Washington Post, 18 July 2021 Such software often lets governments read text messages and emails on a smartphone or even force it to eavesdrop on its surroundings. Kevin Collier, NBC News, 6 July 2022 Natacha Aguilar de Soto, a marine biologist at the University of La Laguna, Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands, decided to eavesdrop on local pilot whales during their dives and fitted 23 of them with sound-recording tags. Stephanie Pain, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2022 In a second study of 80 mothers and babies published this past April in Child Development, Brito and her colleagues used electroencephalography (EEG) to eavesdrop on babies' brain waves three months after birth. Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 1 June 2022 That’s an important layer of protection that is often missing from public Wi-Fi networks. Networks in places like hotels and airports are often unsecured, which can allow hackers to eavesdrop on your activities. Lee Mathews, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
probably back-formation from eavesdropper, literally, one standing under the drip from the eaves
First Known Use
1606, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
eavesdrop
verb
eaves·drop ˈēvz-ˌdräp
eavesdropped; eavesdropping
: to listen secretly to private conversation
Legal Definition
eavesdrop
intransitive verb
eaves·drop
eavesdropped; eavesdropping
: to listen secretly to what is being said in private without the consent of the speaker compare bug, wiretap