listen

American  

[lis-uhn] / ˈlɪs ən /

verb (used without object)

listens, present (3rd person singular) listened, past participle, past listening present participle

1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.

2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often followed byto ).

   Children don't always listen to their parents.

3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually followed byfor ).

   to listen for sounds of their return.

4. Informal. to convey a particular impression to the hearer; sound.

   The new recording doesn't listen as well as the old one.

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verb (used with object)

listens, present (3rd person singular) listened, past participle, past listening present participle

1. Archaic. to give ear to; hear.

verb phrase

1. listen in

   1. to listen to a radio or television broadcast.

      Listen in tomorrow for the names of the lottery winners.

   2. to overhear a conversation or communication, especially by telephone; eavesdrop.

      Someone was listening in to his private calls.

listen British  

/ ˈlɪsən /

verb

1. to concentrate on hearing something

2. to take heed; pay attention

   I told you many times but you wouldn't listen

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Synonym Usage

See hear.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• listener
  noun
• relisten
  verb
• unlistening
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• listening
  present
• listened
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• listen
  simple
• listens
  simple
• have listened
  perfect
• has listened
  perfect
• am listening
  progressive
• are listening
  progressive
• is listening
  progressive
• have been listening
  perfect progressive
• has been listening
  perfect progressive

Past

• listened
  simple
• had listened
  perfect
• was listening
  progressive
• were listening
  progressive
• had been listening
  perfect progressive

Future

• will listen
  simple
• will have listened
  perfect
• will be listening
  progressive
• will have been listening
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of listen

First recorded before 950; Middle English lis(t)nen, Old English hlysnan; cognate with Middle High German lüsenen, Swedish lyssna; akin to list ⁵

Explanation

If you really listen late at night after everyone's asleep, you'll hear the noises your house makes — the creaking of walls and floors, the hum of the refrigerator, the banging of the radiators. When you listen to something, you don't just hear it, but you really pay attention to the sounds. You can listen to music, listen for the sound of your guests arriving, or listen to the advice your grandfather gives you. The phrase listen in means to eavesdrop on, or deliberately overhear, a conversation. The t in the middle of the word listen is silent (you can't hear it even if you listen).

Example Sentences

"They were calling me and telling me to stay quiet, to listen for the knocking and tell them" where I heard it, Gil recounted.

From Barron's • Jul. 7, 2026

At the time, young Cubans actively exchanged flash drives to listen to banned music clandestinely.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 5, 2026

As America celebrates 250 years, we size up how it’s been portrayed in, and has shaped, what we watch, listen to and read.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

Sam used to say, “Close your eyes when you listen to a new artist — don’t get swayed by whether they’re beautiful or they’re handsome or they can dance their ass off.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

“This would have meant so much to him. I’m glad you didn’t listen to me.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• attend
• get
• observe
• take notice
• tune in