Eavesdropper: meaning, definitions and examples

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eavesdropper

 

[ ˈiːvzˌdrɒpər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

person

A person who secretly listens to private conversations of others without their consent, typically for the purpose of obtaining information or for entertainment.

Synonyms

listener, snoop, spy.

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Word Description / Examples
eavesdropper

An eavesdropper is someone who listens to other people's conversations without their permission. Often used in situations where the person does this secretly to learn information.

  • She felt the presence of an eavesdropper behind the door
  • The eavesdropper learned about their secret plan
snoop

A snoop is someone who looks into other people's private affairs or searches for hidden information in a sneaky or nosy manner. This term often carries a negative connotation.

  • Stop being such a snoop and respect my privacy! The snoop got caught trying to read her diary
spy

A spy is someone who secretly collects information about others, often used in the context of espionage or undercover activities. This term can be used in both a professional and a negative sense.

  • He was trained to be a spy for the government
  • They suspected there was a spy among them leaking information
listener

A listener is someone who listens attentively, often used in a neutral or positive context, referring to someone who pays attention to what others are saying.

  • She is a great listener and always helps me by giving good advice
  • He was one of the attentive listeners in the audience

Examples of usage

  • He felt like an eavesdropper as he overheard their conversation.
  • The eavesdropper was caught listening in on the private meeting.
  • She suspected her neighbor was an eavesdropper, as he always seemed to know too much about her personal life.

Translations

Translations of the word "eavesdropper" in other languages:

🇵🇹 espião

🇮🇳 गुप्त श्रोता

🇩🇪 Lauscher

🇮🇩 penyadap

🇺🇦 підслуховувач

🇵🇱 podsłuchiwacz

🇯🇵 盗み聞きする人

🇫🇷 écouteur clandestin

🇪🇸 espía

🇹🇷 kulak misafiri

🇰🇷 엿듣는 사람

🇸🇦 متنصت

🇨🇿 odposlouchávač

🇸🇰 odpočúvač

🇨🇳 窃听者

🇸🇮 prisluškovalec

🇮🇸 hlustari

🇰🇿 тыңдаушы

🇬🇪 მოუსმენელი

🇦🇿 qulaq asan

🇲🇽 espía

Etymology

The term 'eavesdropper' originated from the Middle English 'evesdrop' meaning the space around a house where eaves fall. In the past, people would stand under the eaves to listen to conversations inside the house. Over time, the term evolved to refer to someone who listens in on private conversations.

See also: eavesdropping.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,481, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.