listener

noun

lis·​ten·​er ˈli-sᵊn-ər 

ˈlis-nər

plural listeners

: one who listens to someone or something

a radio program with many listeners

a friend who's a good listener [=who listens attentively and sympathetically]

Fanny, being always a very courteous listener, and often the only listener at hand, came in for the complaints and distresses of most of them.

—Jane Austen

The average concertgoer drifts in and out of the music, often losing the thread. The listener can't always hear the music in the music, and tends to notice only the most obvious (usually the loudest) events.

—David Schiff

Examples of listener in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My feelings about Dudamel as an interpreter have ranged from irritation at his turn-it-up-to-11 showiness to admiration for his ability to make listeners hear music afresh. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

These various numbers tell the story of where Vaundy stands today, but underlying it all is his wealth of talent as an artist and the variety of his creations, which never stop surprising fans and listeners. — Billboard Japan, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

Named Fresh Finds Forward, the program builds on more than a decade of Fresh Finds, which a press release touts has helped more than 80,000 artists across 127 countries find new listeners. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026

That connection with her listeners will not end Friday, Lynch emphasized. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above