listen

1 of 2

verb

lis·​ten ˈli-sᵊn 

listened; listening ˈli-sᵊn-iŋ 

ˈlis-niŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to pay attention to sound

listen to music

2

: to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration

listen to a plea

3

: to be alert to catch an expected sound

listen for his step

transitive verb

archaic : hear

listen

2 of 2

noun

: an act of listening

Synonyms of listen

Verb

• hear

Examples of listen in a Sentence

Verb

I listened as hard as I could, but I couldn't hear a word of what he said over all that noise.

She listened with interest as he told her about his travels.

She tried to warn him of the dangers, but he wouldn't listen.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Frankly, turning it off and listening to the soundbar in normal stereo sounds flat, uninteresting, muddy, and just blah after getting used to SuperWide. — Joe Salas july 07, New Atlas, 8 July 2026

Smart investing means listening to all the regional voices, trusting none of them completely and remembering that the Fed is not one oracle but a committee of humans with conflicting spreadsheets and a new boss still learning how to manage them. — Ivan Illan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Noun

However, the other approximately 40,000 independent podcasts not tethered to large corporations still account for over 80% of all listens/views/downloads. — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Netflix has unveiled a first look at its forthcoming competition show based on Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory — and also a first listen, which might be the key element here. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English listnen, from Old English hlysnan; akin to Sanskrit śroṣati he hears, Old English hlūd loud

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1788, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing listen

• listen for
• listen in
• listen out for
• listen up
• listen with only half an ear

Rhymes for listen

• bisson
• christen
• frisson
• glisten
• nissen
• hemolysin
• rifampicin

Kids Definition

listen

verb

lis·​ten

ˈlis-ᵊn

listened; listening

ˈlis-niŋ, 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to pay attention in order to hear

listen for a signal

listen to a new CD

2

: to give heed : follow advice

listen to a warning

listener

ˈlis-nər, 

-ᵊn-ər

noun