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

For much of that time, I was engaged in outdoor activities—camping, hiking, kayaking, fishing, running, and swimming—or indoor ones that are not digitally-mediated, such as dining out with family or listening to live entertainment. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Curiously, the exact same message can be interpreted completely differently depending on who's listening. — Don Weber, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

Here’s why the climbing debt makes the advice worth a listen. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Now, when Hoffman goes home to visit, the two listen to them together. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 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