listened; listening
ˈli-sᵊn-iŋ 
ˈlis-niŋ
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
archaic
: 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
Steven D. Reske, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
The Merlin Pilot system handles much more than a traditional autopilot, using a natural language processing model to listen to instructions from a mock air traffic controller and responding over the radio using a computerized female voice.
—Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
TikTok clips replace full listens.
—Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for listen
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Verb
Agreeing on things such as the song, the key, the soloists’ order — and, most importantly, listening to each other — is essential.
—Steven D. Reske, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
The Merlin Pilot system handles much more than a traditional autopilot, using a natural language processing model to listen to instructions from a mock air traffic controller and responding over the radio using a computerized female voice.
—Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Noun
So will people in the 24th century listen to the Rolling Stones or the Beatles?
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
TikTok clips replace full listens.
—Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for listen
Cite this Entry
“Listen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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