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eavesdrop
verb
eaves·drop
ˈēvz-ˌdräp
eavesdropped; eavesdropping; eavesdrops
: to listen secretly to what is said in private
eavesdropper
noun
Examples of eavesdrop in a Sentence
a nosy traveler who likes to eavesdrop on his fellow airline passengers
Recent Examples on the Web
Voice assistants—which first landed in speakers and on our phones, but quickly moved to our wrists and faces—at least required active engagement like a tap or a wake word to activate their ability to eavesdrop.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2025
The potential for spying might be a worry, but Apple offers plenty of privacy settings to prevent Siri eavesdropping on your conversations.
—Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement in response to a lawsuit alleging that its virtual assistant, Siri, was used to eavesdrop on users of its iPhones and other popular devices.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Looking around the restaurant patio at the Chateau Marmont, populated by folks famous and fame-adjacent, some whispering, others talking at a volume that seems less an invitation than a demand to eavesdrop, the filmmaker shakes his head and smiles.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
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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
Articles Related to eavesdrop
Dictionary Entries Near eavesdrop
Cite this Entry
“Eavesdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eavesdrop. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
eavesdrop
verb
eaves·drop
ˈēvz-ˌdräp
: to listen secretly to private conversation
eavesdropper
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on eavesdrop
Nglish: Translation of eavesdrop for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of eavesdrop for Arabic Speakers
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