listen
verb (used without object)
to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
was listening
-
past progressiveof listen.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I was listening to a lot of jazz when I started to work on “Femme Fatale,” and wanted it to have that specific sound that you hear on the title track.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
She was listening to a podcast about weight-loss drugs and started to think they might help her too.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
But Carlos Dibus, one of millions of Cubans who have fled abroad, was listening intently.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
“I always thought that he was listening to us as scientists, with respect and with understanding of the value of what we provide,” Verdin said.
From Salon ● May 7, 2026
Sometimes it felt like she was listening for something specific, although I could never tell what that was.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
