noun
eavesdropping
EEVS-dro-peeng
noun
1
The act of secretly listening to a conversation that isn't meant for you.
"Eavesdropping on your neighbours is rude, even if their walls are thin."
"The spy novel opens with a scene of eavesdropping in a hotel corridor."
2
The interception of private electronic communications, such as phone calls or emails.
"The court ruled the government's eavesdropping on the journalist's emails was illegal."
How to Use Eavesdropping
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSecretly listening in — whether it's a face-to-face chat or intercepted digital communication.
Common pairings
electronic eavesdropping
accused of eavesdropping
eavesdropping device
Word Forms
eavesdroppings plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “eavesdropping”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ on your neighbours is rude, even if their walls are thin.