overhear
Base form
overhear
/ˌəʊvəˈhɪə(r)//ˌəʊvərˈhɪr/
Past simple
overheard
/ˌəʊvəˈhɜːd//ˌəʊvərˈhɜːrd/
Past participle
overheard
/ˌəʊvəˈhɜːd//ˌəʊvərˈhɜːrd/
MeaningC1
to hear what other people are saying without them knowing
to overhear what you weren’t meant to hear
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1People at the next table might overhear us.
- Question · Form 1Did you overhear what the boss said?
- Past simple · Form 2Yesterday I overheard my parents planning a surprise party.
- Past simple · Form 2On the bus this morning, Aisha overheard a funny conversation.
- Present perfect · Form 3Have you overheard any gossip about the new manager?
- Passive · Form 3Their argument was overheard by the whole office.
Watch out
Like hear → heard: overheard, said /ˌəʊvəˈhɜːd/. Overheared and overhearded are wrong.
Same pattern
A — B — BForms two and three are the same
Irregular VerbsLearn all three forms for good
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