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
Example sentences from the Web for listener
British Dictionary definitions for listener
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