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.

---

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

---

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

The weekend after the raid, Zion’s leaders distributed audio files that members could listen to on their phones.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

In Hollywood, as an actress — listen, once you’re not an ingenue, you’re done, right?

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

I listen to the government and I take it to the people.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

I listen to what Seth is saying, and I expect the transition to alternative energy sources to accelerate globally.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

A wolverine snarled at him to stay away, and he snarled back as fiercely as he could, because wolverines only listen to threats.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

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