ear

noun

ˈir How to pronounce ear (audio)
Definition of earnext
as in attention
a state of being aware I'm trying to get the boss's ear in order to ask for a raise in my pay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ear Labor Day Earbuds Deals Apple's redesigned AirPods 4 bring meaningful upgrades to everyday listening in a refined open-ear design. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026 The rock kids, the funk kids, the disco-ers, the club rats are all fleetingly conjoined by one pair of highly attuned ears loitering on the streets. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Johnson jokes, miming a phone to her ear as Cherkovskiy puts his head in hands. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 Alas, this excellent advice goes into one of Joe’s ears and out the other. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ear
  1. attention
  2. awareness
  3. eye
  4. mindfulness
Noun
  • Your attention to detail isn’t excessive when the numbers affect your security.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • The later exposure windows produced more noticeable effects on sleep and next-day performance, including measures of attention, movement and dart-throwing accuracy.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of attention
Noun
  • Central States recently joined the Expanding ESOPs coalition, which includes nearly 100 organizations working together to grow employer ownership here in Arkansas and beyond by increasing awareness and improving policy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Veterans Place says events like the Cornhole Classic not only raise money, but also increase awareness of the challenges many veterans face after military service.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of awareness
Noun
  • To his eyes, the 11th century record of the Norman conquest offers an extreme example of the value of studying history’s patterns to anticipate future developments.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While the rest of MomTok goes through it (except for Whitney, who is having the time of her life), they are only ever given half of our attention because Taylor and her eye-wateringly poor decision-making are impossible to sideline.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of eye
Noun
  • On Malta, the adults-only Verdala Wellness Hotel, Corinthia Palace, Phoenicia, and ME Malta offer pools, spacious spas, focused workouts, and mindfulness activities designed to restore and rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2026
  • This was the Jack Kornfield, the mindfulness guru who wrote A Path With Heart, the book that had launched Britton’s journey into Buddhism.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of mindfulness

Browse Nearby Words

eagle-eyed
ear
earache
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ear. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All