listen for

idiom

: to pay attention to sounds in order to hear (something expected)

We listened for (the sound of) his footsteps.

We saw lightning and listened for the thunder.

Examples of listen for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here are Christian Cooper's tips for first-time birdwatchers: Be aware of your surroundings Cooper says the best way to increase your bird sightings is to be sensitive to your surroundings: listen for running water, look for undergrowth, and respect the habitat. —Madeleine Janz, Peoplemag, 9 July 2024

Cameras pick up the color of traffic lights, microphones listen for emergency vehicle sirens, and sensors help the car create a detailed 3D map of its surroundings, including other cars, passersby, and road obstructions. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 8 July 2024

Life Tornado detection: bringing Stone Age tech into the 21st century Technology designed to listen for atomic bombs can also hear tornadoes. —Big Think, 24 June 2024

The multipurpose devices also act as light and temperature sensors, can be used as leak detectors, and can listen for smoke / carbon monoxide alarm audio sirens. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 13 June 2024