verb
hark
hahk
Hark (verb) means to listen attentively, typically used in the old-fashioned command "hark!". Example: “Hark! Do you hear that distant bell?”
verb
1
To listen attentively, typically used in the old-fashioned command "hark!"
"Hark! Do you hear that distant bell?"
"The phrase "hark back" means to return to or recall something from the past."
How to use hark
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned way of saying "listen!" — most commonly seen today in the phrase "hark back to."
When to use it
Archaic or literary; rarely used outside the fixed phrase "hark back."
Common pairings
hark back to
hark! the herald angels sing
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Word forms
- Plural
- harks
- Third person singular
- harks
- Past tense
- harked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____! Do you hear that distant bell?
Etymology
From Old English root related to "hear," with an added intensive ending, making it essentially an old word for "listen closely."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for hark
See all rhymes for hark →Frequently asked questions
What does “hark” mean?
The word “hark” means to listen attentively, typically used in the old-fashioned command "hark!". In plain terms, an old-fashioned way of saying "listen!" — most commonly seen today in the phrase "hark back to.".
How do you pronounce “hark”?
“Hark” is pronounced hahk (/hɑː(ɹ)k/ in IPA).
How do you use “hark” in a sentence?
Here is “hark” used in a sentence: “Hark! Do you hear that distant bell?”
What part of speech is “hark”?
“Hark” is a verb.
Where does the word “hark” come from?
The word “hark” comes from Old English. From Old English root related to "hear," with an added intensive ending, making it essentially an old word for "listen closely.".
