listen in (on)

verb

Definition of listen in (on)next
as in to eavesdrop (on)
to listen to (another in private conversation) it's not polite to listen in on other people's private conversations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for listen in (on)
  1. hear
  2. monitor
  3. spy
  4. overhear
Verb
  • Eschewing cult-leader cliché for a plummy everyday friendliness that eventually circles round to sinister, Ben Whishaw cleverly plays Elon as equal parts guru and grifter: His counsel is sometimes obvious, but what the person needs to hear just the same.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The court is scheduled to hear additional arguments on Jan. 15.
    Kevin Bessler | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Dec. 2024
Definition of hear
Verb
  • The club are monitoring Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.
    Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
  • The people living with the infected cat were being monitored, Oregon health officials said, but had not shown signs of illness.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of monitor
Verb
  • Claire comes home one day from spying and finds Lord John in tears, meeting with a captain from the Royal Navy.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 29 Nov. 2024
  • At the same time, Ukrainian authorities have become increasingly suspicious of anyone with links to the Russian Orthodox Church, arresting and convicting clergymen of spying for Moscow.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of spy
Verb
  • Tell us about experiences that capture the city’s spirit and heart — an anecdote, memory, quirky encounter or overheard snippet of conversation that has stuck with you or only just happened.
    New York Times, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
  • Ironically, his girlfriend overheard part of the conversation and burst into laughter, the man writes.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of overhear
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near listen in (on)

listening (to)

listen in (on)

listens

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Listen in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listen%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.

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