listen
verb (used without object)
to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
have been listening
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present perfect progressiveof listen.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the real cherry on top is the latest in a line of third-act twists that aren’t just twists, but ways to repeat the plot in case a viewer might not have been listening.
From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2026
K-pop artists had never scored nominations in the Grammys’ marquee categories before 2025, even though some Americans have been listening to the genre for years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 27, 2025
"We have been listening to feedback from our 23,000 volunteers throughout this process and this will be considered carefully in the final decision making," said the charity's chief executive in a statement.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2025
The follow-up question will come to you if you have been listening and are curious about your friend, says Bonfil.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2025
She must have been listening at the door and lost her balance.
From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
