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

She was known for her raspy vocals, offering listeners an edgier sound that also melded rock and pop. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Varèse-plus-Oladra rewards the listener with digital playback possessing the emotion expected of analogue. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026

Regardless of whether listeners caught it, Watts’s aggressive proto-punk drum beat and the addition of a fuzz tone made the song sound even dirtier. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026

The comedy podcast will debut July 15, and will see Saunders and producer Tyree Rush asking listeners to share thoughts on pop culture, news and politics in addition to Saunders’ own takes. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above