# eavesdrop

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈiːvzˌdɹɒp/ · frequency rank #54,143

## Definitions
1. To hear (intentionally) a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in.
2. To listen for another organism's calls, so as to exploit them.

## Etymology
From eaves + drop; the "listening" sense derives from the notion of the listener standing in the area denoted by the physical sense.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/eavesdrop