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

God – but thousands upon thousands of everyday listeners, who call in and share their grief stories with him. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Hopkins and Williams also will answer listener questions about the show. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025

If the title track shows our powerful side, this song captures the vibe of us genuinely having fun together — listeners will naturally enjoy it. —Billboard Korea, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025

But there’s one song, and one Glee performance in particular, that numerous listeners mentioned as especially memorable. —Alan Light, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above