earshot

Within listening range

Earshot is the distance within which sounds can be heard.

If you are within earshot of something, you are close enough to hear it; if you are out of earshot, you are too far away.

The word appears almost exclusively in these two phrases: Let's wait until we're out of earshot before we talk about the surprise party.

proximity

range

Extent of variation

distanceSpace between two points
vicinityNearby surrounding area
reachExtend to touch

proximity · nearby · close · within · audible · near · far · beyond · out of · inside

privacy

whisper

Speech without full voice

hushAbsence of sound
sotto voceIn an undertone
murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound

confidential · private · secrecy · discretion · quiet · silence · inaudible · mute · discreet · guarded

awareness

overhear

Accidentally catch speech

catchSeize or snag
hearPerceive by ear
noticeBecome aware of

perceive · detect · discern · pick up · listen · attention · alert · aware · conscious · eavesdrop

surveillance

eavesdrop

Listen to private conversations

overhearAccidentally catch speech
bugCrawling creature or defect
wiretapHidden listening device

intercept · spy · snoop · monitor · listen in · surveillance · covert · clandestine · intelligence · tapping

Categories

auditory perceptionlistening, sound, noise, volume, pitch
reachgrasp, stretch, extension, span, range
measurementsheight, stature, meters, depth, pound
proximitynear, close, nearby, nearness, proximity
sound qualitiesloudness, pitch, tone, faintness, clarity
distance wordsnear, far, close, distant, remote

Opposites

auditory proximity/range

earshotout of range

Beyond effective distance

remote · distant · far · far away · extreme

sensory modality

earshoteyeshot

Range of vision

line of sight · visible range · visual range · sightline · field of vision

Phrases

within earshotClose enough to hear

Family

ears, shot, ear, hearing

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G