hearing

American  

[heer-ing] / ˈhɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived.

2. the act of perceiving sound.

3. opportunity to be heard.

   to grant a hearing.

4. an instance or a session in which testimony and arguments are presented, especially before an official, as a judge in a lawsuit.

   Synonyms:

   consultation, conference, audience

5. a preliminary examination of the basic evidence and charges by a magistrate to determine whether criminal procedures, a trial, etc., are justified.

6. earshot.

   Their conversation was beyond my hearing.

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hearing British  

/ ˈhɪərɪŋ /

noun

1. the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived

2. an opportunity to be listened to

3. the range within which sound can be heard; earshot

4. the investigation of a matter by a court of law, esp the preliminary inquiry into an indictable crime by magistrates

5. a formal or official trial of an action or lawsuit

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Other Word Forms

• hearingless adjective
• prehearing noun
• unhearing adjective

Etymology

Origin of hearing

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; hear, -ing ¹

Explanation

Hearing is the sense that allows you to distinguish sounds with your ears. Dogs have a particularly acute sense of hearing, and they can hear sounds pitched too high for humans to hear. You use your hearing when you attend a concert, listen to an audio book, or talk to a friend on the phone. Another kind of hearing is a legal process at which people state a case in front of a judge, so she can decide whether or not it should be presented at a trial with a jury. This kind of hearing gets its name from the idea that the court is "listening" to the evidence.

Example Sentences

The judge has scheduled a hearing on Friday over the proposal.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

“The complaints you’re hearing come from a small number of traders who lost money on their bets and are looking for someone to blame,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The study focused on the quality of language children were hearing, particularly in-person human interaction and conversation, rather than just watching or listening to speech on a screen.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Earlier this year, he was granted bail ahead of a preliminary hearing in April.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

He’d kept hearing them, because Rachel had refused to let it go.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Related Words

• audit
• conference
• consultation
• discussion
• inquiry
• interview
• investigation
• meeting
• negotiation
• presentation
• reception
• review
• test
• trial