listen
[ lis-uh n ]
/ ˈlɪs ən /
verb (used without object)
to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
to pay attention; heed; obey (often followed by to): Children don't always listen to their parents.
to wait attentively for a sound (usually followed by for): to listen for sounds of their return.
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)
Archaic.
to give ear to; hear.
Verb Phrases
listen in,
- to listen to a radio or television broadcast: Listen in tomorrow for the names of the lottery winners.
- to overhear a conversation or communication, especially by telephone; eavesdrop: Someone was listening in to his private calls.
Origin of listen
before 950; Middle English
lis(t)nen, Old English
hlysnan; cognate with Middle High German
lüsenen, Swedish
lyssna; akin to
list5
OTHER WORDS FROM listen
lis·ten·er, noun re·lis·ten, verb un·lis·ten·ing, adjectiveWords nearby listen
British Dictionary definitions for listen in (1 of 2)
listen in
verb (intr, adverb often foll by to)
to listen to the radio
to intercept radio communications
to listen but not contribute (to a discussion), esp surreptitiously
British Dictionary definitions for listen in (2 of 2)
listen
/ (ˈlɪsən) /
verb (intr)
to concentrate on hearing something
to take heed; pay attention
I told you many times but you wouldn't listen
Derived forms of listen
listener, nounWord Origin for listen
Old English
hlysnan; related to Old High German
lūstrēn
Idioms and Phrases with listen in
listen in
Hear or overhear the conversation of others; eavesdrop. It is also put as listen in on, as in She listened in on her parents and learned they were planning a surprise party. [Early 1900s]
Tune in and listen to a broadcast, as in Were you listening in the other night when they played Beethoven's Fifth? [1920s]