hear

[heer]

verb (used with object)

heard, hearing 

1. to perceive by the ear.

   Didn't you hear the doorbell?

   Synonyms: attend

2. to learn by the ear or by being told; be informed of.

   to hear news.

   Synonyms: attend

3. to listen to; give or pay attention to.

   They refused to hear our side of the argument.

4. to be among the audience at or of (something).

   to hear a recital.

   Synonyms: attend

5. to give a formal, official, or judicial hearing to (something); consider officially, as a judge, sovereign, teacher, or assembly.

   to hear a case.

6. to take or listen to the evidence or testimony of (someone).

   to hear the defendant.

7. to listen to with favor, assent, or compliance.

   Synonyms: heed, regard
   Antonyms: disregard

8. (of a computer) to perceive by speech recognition.

verb (used without object)

heard, hearing 

1. to be capable of perceiving sound by the ear; have the faculty of perceiving sound vibrations.

2. to receive information by the ear or otherwise.

   to hear from a friend.

3. to listen with favor, assent, or compliance (often followed byof ).

   I will not hear of your going.

4. (of a computer) to be capable of perceiving by speech recognition.

5. (used as an interjection in the phrase Hear! Hear! to express approval, as of a speech.)

hear

/ hɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to perceive (a sound) with the sense of hearing

2. (tr; may take a clause as object) to listen to

   did you hear what I said?

3. to be informed (of); receive information (about)

   to hear of his success

   have you heard?

4. law to give a hearing to (a case)

5. to listen (to) with favour, assent, etc

   she wouldn't hear of it

6. to receive a letter, news, etc (from)

7. an exclamation used to show approval of something said

8. dialect,  to be told (about); learn (of)

Other Word Forms

• hearable adjective
• hearer noun
• outhear verb (used with object)
• rehear verb
• unhearable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hear¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English heren, Old English hēran, hīeran; cognate with Dutch horen, German hören, Old Norse heyra, Gothic hausjan; perhaps akin to Greek akoúein ( acoustic )

Word History and Origins

Origin of hear¹

Old English hieran; related to Old Norse heyra, Gothic hausjan, Old High German hōren, Greek akouein

Idioms and Phrases

• another county heard from
• hard of hearing
• never hear the end of
• not have it (hear of it)
• unheard of

Synonym Study

Hear, listen apply to the perception of sound. To hear is to have such perception by means of the auditory sense: to hear distant bells. To listen is to give attention in order to hear and understand the meaning of a sound or sounds: to listen to what is being said; to listen for a well-known footstep.

Example Sentences

The lawsuit is now before a federal court, with hearings expected in the coming months.

From Salon

The first time Angel “Angel Baby” Rodriguez heard Art Laboe on the radio, he was 13, in his father’s garage in the City of Industry.

From Los Angeles Times

You could almost hear international observers gritting their teeth and nodding along: No lies detected!

From Salon

During the legislative session, lawmakers heard from grieving parents who lost their children.

From Los Angeles Times

"You hear all sorts and you just try to make them feel better about the whole thing."

From BBC

Related Words

• determine 
• discover 
• find out 
• gather 
• learn 
• pick up 
• receive 
• see 
• understand