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
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
These early experiences revealed that her way of listening and responding could be meaningful to others.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Like Parcels, this indie-pop band is a killer listen and their music just puts you in a good mood.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen
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Verb
The state’s acting insurance commissioner, Josh Hershman, delivered a simple message to anyone listening to top state officials.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
These early experiences revealed that her way of listening and responding could be meaningful to others.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
Today's listen This year, the NPR Music team published 115 Tiny Desk concerts featuring a diverse range of artists, including rap and rock legends, Broadway musicals and even puppets.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Like Parcels, this indie-pop band is a killer listen and their music just puts you in a good mood.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen
Cite this Entry
“Listen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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