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
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Prime then said that the board later listened and acquiesced to some of the requests of Phelps, O’Donnell and Prime in the final 2025 charter agreement, the one put in front of teams in September and the one that 13 of 15 teams signed.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
Take a listen to the best new music this week below.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
According to Portanova, Podesta is cooperating with investigators in the ongoing probe, which set Sacramento on edge after The Sacramento Bee reported that the FBI notified dozens of lobbyists and consultants that investigators had listened to or read their conversations in summer 2024.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Prime then said that the board later listened and acquiesced to some of the requests of Phelps, O’Donnell and Prime in the final 2025 charter agreement, the one put in front of teams in September and the one that 13 of 15 teams signed.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Noun
Yet a close look and careful listen reveal a more emphatic message, that of a market repositioning for a reacceleration of the economy, following the playbook that’s often cracked open in an early-cycle phase when the Federal Reserve is loosening policy.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
Take a listen to the best new music this week below.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 5 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 Dec. 2025.
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