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
With raw lyrics, inventive production and Burns’ best vocal performance to date, How to Be Human is a must-listen for any music fans out there.
—
Stephen Daw, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
For the most part, offensive linemen only listen for a certain section of the play.
—Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
At Paulsen’s house, players walk past a minivan in the driveway, ring the doorbell and listen for a moment as Paulsen and Kelly corral the dogs and the kids.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
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Stephen Daw, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
For the most part, offensive linemen only listen for a certain section of the play.
—Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
At Paulsen’s house, players walk past a minivan in the driveway, ring the doorbell and listen for a moment as Paulsen and Kelly corral the dogs and the kids.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen for
Cite this Entry
“Listen for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen%20for. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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