listen

[ lis-uhn ]

verb (used without object)

1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often followed by to ):

   Children don't always listen to their parents.

3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually followed by for ):

   to listen for sounds of their return.

4. Informal. to convey a particular impression to the hearer; sound:

   The new recording doesn't listen as well as the old one.

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to give ear to; hear.

verb phrase

1. 1. to listen to a radio or television broadcast:

      Listen in tomorrow for the names of the lottery winners.

   2. to overhear a conversation or communication, especially by telephone; eavesdrop:

      Someone was listening in to his private calls.

listen

/ ˈlɪsən /

verb

1. to concentrate on hearing something
2. to take heed; pay attention

   I told you many times but you wouldn't listen

Derived Forms

• ˈlistener, noun

Other Words From

• listen·er noun
• re·listen verb
• un·listen·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of listen¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English lis(t)nen, Old English hlysnan; cognate with Middle High German lüsenen, Swedish lyssna; akin to list ⁵

Word History and Origins

Origin of listen¹

Old English hlysnan; related to Old High German lūstrēn

Synonym Study

See hear.

Example Sentences

“I was ignored and made to feel like a neurotic mum - nobody was listening,” Christina says.

From BBC

I call it ‘barking’ because I was listening to New York hardcore, like Madball and groups like that.

From Los Angeles Times

Newsom and Democrats need to do less preaching and more listening.

From Los Angeles Times

Why, it’s almost as if she learned the Plastics' trick of luring someone to gossip about another person on the phone without letting on that it's a three-way conference with the subject silently listening.

From Salon

“There’s a difference between lip service and good policy that is really vetted by the people who are going to be impacted, and women have a track record of powerful listening and inclusive, responsive solutions.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• attend
• get
• observe
• take notice
• tune in