hearken

or hark·en

[ hahr-kuhn ]

/ ˈhɑr kən /

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See synonyms for: hearken / hearkening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

Literary. to give heed or attention to what is said; listen.

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to listen to; hear.

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of hearken

1150–1200; Middle English hercnen,Old English he(o)rcnian, suffixed form of assumed *heorcian;see hark, -en¹

OTHER WORDS FROM hearken

heark·en·er, noun

Words nearby hearken

hearing dog, hearing-ear dog, hearing-impaired, hearing impairment, hearing loss, hearken, Hearn, hear of, hear oneself think, can't, hear out, hearsay

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use hearken in a sentence

These non-aligned nations don’t hearken to America’s frequent invocation of the “free world.”
Putin May Be Winning the Information War Outside of the U.S. and Europe|Richard Stengel|May 20, 2022|Time
There’s a huge amount of ’90s nostalgia at play — AriZona iced tea’s jackets with the brand’s classic patterns and Pizza Hut’s plastic red cups are meant to hearken back to the decade that’s just so trendy right now.
Fast-Food Fashion Is Everywhere — Except on Fat People|Victoria Edel|December 20, 2021|Eater
In time, perhaps, “people… may then begin to think more coolly about this Matter, and hearken a little to Reason and Demonstration.”
Today’s Crypto Fanatics Could Learn a Lot From Isaac Newton’s Money Mishaps|Thomas Levenson|June 23, 2021|Time
The so-called People’s Ordinance hearkens back to 1919, when 85 percent of voters supported a measure mandating that the city collect trash from homes and allowed city leaders to levy fees for it.
One Councilman Wants to Trash the People’s Ordinance|Lisa Halverstadt|April 22, 2021|Voice of San Diego

Hearken to the bleating of newborn two-headed freak candidacy lambs.
PJ’s Political Forecast: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatheads|P. J. O’Rourke|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And hearken to this latest warning by Kevin Sabet: cigarettes are legal, yet organized crime syndicates still smuggle them.
Let's Have a Smarter Approach to Marijuana|David Frum|January 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I hope you'll find it entertaining, but even more that you'll hearken to its message.
"Patriots" Goes Live Today|David Frum|April 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken diligently.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel who are carried by my bowels, are borne up by my womb.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in fatness.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
And I appointed watchmen over you, saying: Hearken ye to the sound of the trumpet.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Hearken not to the words of the prophets that say to you: You shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they tell you a lie.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for hearken

hearken

sometimes US harken

/ (ˈhɑːkən) /

verb

archaic to listen to (something)

Derived forms of hearken

hearkener, noun

Word Origin for hearken

Old English heorcnian; see hark

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hearken

or hark·en

Origin of hearken

OTHER WORDS FROM hearken

Words nearby hearken

Words related to hearken

How to use hearken in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hearken

sometimes US harken

Derived forms of hearken

Word Origin for hearken