listener

American  

[lis-uh-ner] / ˈlɪs ə nər /

noun

• listeners
  plural

1. someone who gives attention with the ear, especially for the purpose of hearing specific sounds, speech, instructions, etc..

   At story time, you may choose to be a reader or a listener.

2. someone who listens to a radio broadcast or to a specific radio program.

   They attract teenage listeners with pop songs about first love.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• listeners
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of listener

First recorded in 1600–20; listen ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

listener listeners

It doesn’t capture the fact that your reader and your viewer and your listener are shocked and possibly outraged and really struggling with what’s going on.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

You’re challenging the listener to accept that over the top doesn’t necessarily mean phony.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Colleagues describe him as a good listener who is personable in private meetings, and measured in his decision-making.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The effort comes after legendary music mogul Jimmy Iovine said music streaming services were "minutes away from being obsolete", because they don't foster a connection between the listener and the music.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Laury summed it up best: “Lightning’s a good listener, and she believes in us.”

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

"Though the chatbots often made mistakes, they also behaved as sympathetic listeners to skeptical users -- while still refusing to endorse conspiracy theories," the center said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Pearson believes the rewatch discussions resonate with listeners because the shows of the 1990s and early 2000s thrived when the viewers had the shared experience of watching a show at the same time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

To some listeners, his Rhysand comes off more New York finance bro than centuries-old high lord.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

A study of facial movements found that subtle changes around the eyes and brows can have a significant impact on how confident a speaker appears to listeners.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Most listeners would not even notice the difference, unless you played it in both keys, one right after the other.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

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Related Words

• audience

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