listen
verb (used without object)
to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
were 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.
They say they used to listen to songs in secret, often not knowing who they were listening to, but clinging to the mysterious and hopeful lyrics.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
“I was with my partner the night before, and we were listening to birds on YouTube,” Ella Bruccoleri told Salon.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
Bosses said they were committed to supporting neurodivergent guests and those with mental health needs, and were listening to feedback about the changes.
From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2026
They wanted to know you were there, you were listening.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2025
They didn’t notice, at first, that Tali had cocked his head a little, as if he were listening to someone whisper in his ear.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
