to listen

Examples

• All

• Children can read the story, listen to the story read aloud, or do a combination.

  Academic text (2015)

• I want you to stay there and actually listen to your thoughts on why.

  Apollonia Ponti

• Next on the list is learn how to listen to this man.

  Stephan Speaks

• You gotta remember, I listen to it every day.

  Back to Black (2024)

• Will you listen to me?

  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

• Create a community where children listen to each other so their ideas speak for themselves.

  Academic text (2012)

• Now, come along with me and listen carefully.

  Sleuth (1972)

• Thank you for joining us and listening to our podcast.

• Following these initial conversations, the teacher invited them to listen to the poet reading his poem.

  Academic text (2015)

• My 3-year-old daughter wants to listen to "Queen of the Night" aria every day.

  Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

H

to hear

vsto listen

∞ 1.0

Listen to someone carefully to consider what they say

is the general act of paying attention to sounds or speech

P

to pay attention

vsto listen

∞ 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

is the same mental focus but specifically for sounds or speech

H

to hang

vsto listen

• Informal

143 7.5

To listen very closely to every word someone says

is similar but covers normal attentive listening rather than intensity

M

to make out

vsto listen

109 4.6

To see, hear, or understand something when it is hard

is regular attentive listening, not focused on difficult perception situations

H

to hear out

vsto listen

• Informal

92 3.2

Listen to someone until they finish speaking

is the general act of attending to sounds without that procedural promise

H

to hear me out

vsto listen

• Informal

86 4.4

Listen to someone until they finish speaking

is ordinary attentive listening without the explicit request to wait

A

to attend

vsto listen

22 3.2

To listen or watch carefully

focuses specifically on attending to sounds or speech for understanding

T

to take heed

vsto listen

• Formal

11 6.2

Pay careful attention to advice or warnings

is general attentive listening not limited to warnings or advice

K

to keep one's ears open

vsto listen

• Informal

4 3.7

Stay alert to hear useful news or information

targets direct attention to sounds or speech rather than general alertness

L

to lend an ear

vsto listen

• Informal

3 3.2

To listen to someone and show you care

is neutral attentive listening without the added sympathetic tone

G

to give ear

vsto listen

• Archaic

1 6.2

To listen carefully to someone

is the broader act of noticing sounds for understanding rather than formality

G

to give heed

vsto listen

1 6.4

To pay careful attention to what someone says or does

is narrower, referring specifically to attending to sounds or speech

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

D

to disregard

119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

Idioms

L

to listen to reason

18 4.1

To accept good advice and change your mind

L

to listen to the haters

• Offensive

8.3

To pay attention to people who say bad things about you

Phrasal Verbs

L

to listen in

• Informal

57 5.0

To hear a conversation secretly without being noticed

L

to listen to music

45 1.0

To pay attention to music and enjoy hearing it

S

to say less and listen

• Informal

7.5

To speak less and pay attention to other people's words

How Attentive

to attend

22 3.2

to listen

∞ 1.0

to hear

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology