What is the synonym of eavesdropping?

listen in, spy, intrude. monitor, tap, wiretap, record, overhear. informal snoop, bug.

What is a synonym and antonym for eavesdrop?

verb. ( ˈiːvzˌdrɑːp) Listen without the speaker’s knowledge. Antonyms. disobey deposit ride. intercept.

What is an antonym for the word eavesdrop?

Opposite of to hear a conversation one is not intended to hear. ignore. abstain. disregard.

What is an overhear?

Definition of overhear transitive verb. : to hear without the speaker’s knowledge or intention. intransitive verb. : to overhear something.

What is the synonym of listening?

hear, pay attention, be attentive, attend, concentrate on, concentrate on hearing, give ear to, lend an ear to. hang on someone’s words. keep one’s ears open, prick up one’s ears. informal be all ears, pin back one’s ears, get a load of, tune in.

Where does eavesdropping come from?

Eavesdrop started off literally: first it referred to the water that fell from the eaves of a house, then it came to mean the ground where that water fell. Eventually, eavesdropper described someone who stood within the eavesdrop of a house to overhear a conversation inside.

What is the difference between eavesdrop and overhear?

Overhear – hear accidentally or secretly. Eavesdrop – secretly listen to a conversation. Therefore eavesdropping must be deliberate and done without the speaker’s knowledge (unless they catch you of course). Overhearing someone can be unintentional.

What is the prefix of overhear?

In the Oxford English Dictionary, “over-, prefix,” the over- in overhear or oversee is sense 1.o in a long list of senses (1.

Is eavesdropping illegal?

California law says that intentionally listening to and recording a private conversation is a crime even if you were only trying to get evidence to help your boss. Thus, you can be charged with eavesdropping.

Is eavesdropping an idiom?

In this case eavesdropper was a sort of idiom, as the implication is that the person standing in the eavesdrop was listening to overhear private conversations through windows or doors, also known as snooping. Eavesdrop may be used as a noun or a verb, related words are eavesdrops, eavesdropped, eavesdropping.