eavesdrop

verb

eaves·​drop ˈēvz-ˌdräp How to pronounce eavesdrop (audio)
eavesdropped; eavesdropping; eavesdrops

intransitive verb

: 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
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.
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 See all Example Sentences for eavesdrop 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of eavesdrop was in 1606

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 How to pronounce eavesdrop (audio)
: to listen secretly to private conversation
eavesdropper noun

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
eavesdropper noun

More from Merriam-Webster on eavesdrop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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