listen

American  

[lis-uhn] / ˈlɪs ən /

verb (used without object)

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)

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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Related Words

See hear.

Other Word Forms

• listener noun
• relisten verb
• unlistening adjective

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

Repairs weren’t made, there wasn’t enough heat in the winter or cooling in the summer, the houses were barely livable, and the landlord didn’t care or listen to the tenants.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

He told a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, “I feel sorry for the people who have to listen to me.”

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

Jordan Blair was behind the wheel when she realized she had picked the wrong podcast to listen to.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

“I would think of my profile as sort of a really cute living room/open garden. And people could come in and have a little cafecito, or a little tea and listen to poetry,” Martínez said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

I creep out of my bedroom and listen from the landing as Dad goes to the door.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Related Words

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