listen
LIH-suhn
Listen (verb) means to pay attention with your ears in order to hear something. Example: “Listen, can you hear the birds singing outside the window?”
verb
1
To pay attention with your ears in order to hear something.
"Listen, can you hear the birds singing outside the window?"
"She listened carefully to the instructions before starting the test."
"I love listening to music while I work."
2
To take someone's advice or do what they say.
"Children rarely listen when their parents tell them to tidy up."
"I should have listened to my friend and taken the earlier train."
"If he had listened to his doctor, he wouldn't be in the hospital now."
How to use listen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsing your ears on purpose, or taking someone's advice.
Common mistake
Listen means paying attention to sound; hear just means the sound reaches your ears whether or not you're paying attention — you can hear noise without listening to it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
listen carefully
listen to reason
listen up
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Word forms
- Plural
- listens
- Third person singular
- listens
- Past tense
- listened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, can you hear the birds singing outside the window?
Etymology
From Old English hlysnan ("to listen"), from a Proto-Germanic root related to hearing — distantly connected to the modern word loud.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for listen
See all rhymes for listen →Frequently asked questions
What does “listen” mean?
The word “listen” means to pay attention with your ears in order to hear something. In plain terms, using your ears on purpose, or taking someone's advice.
How do you pronounce “listen”?
“Listen” is pronounced LIH-suhn (/ˈlɪsən/ in IPA).
How do you use “listen” in a sentence?
Here is “listen” used in a sentence: “She listened carefully to the instructions before starting the test.”
What is another word for “listen”?
Words with a similar meaning to “listen” include attend, be all ears, behear, earball, give ear and hark.
What is the opposite of “listen”?
The opposite of “listen” — its antonyms — are disregard and ignore.
What part of speech is “listen”?
“Listen” is a verb.
Where does the word “listen” come from?
The word “listen” comes from Old English. From Old English hlysnan ("to listen"), from a Proto-Germanic root related to hearing — distantly connected to the modern word loud.
Is “listen” a common word?
“Listen” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between 'listen' and 'hear'?
Hearing is passive: it is simply your ears detecting sound, which happens whether you intend it or not. Listening is active: you deliberately pay attention to make sense of what you hear. You can hear traffic in the background without listening to it, but you listen to someone by focusing on their words.
Can listening be improved as a skill?
Yes. Listening is a skill that improves with conscious effort. Techniques include giving your full attention, not interrupting, keeping eye contact, and summarising what the speaker said to check you understood. This approach, often called active listening, can be practised and strengthened, improving relationships, learning, and teamwork over time.
What is active listening?
Active listening means fully concentrating on a speaker rather than just passively taking in sound. It involves paying close attention, showing you are engaged through nods or short responses, avoiding interruptions, and reflecting back or asking questions to confirm understanding. It is widely taught in counselling, management, and communication training.
Why is listening important?
Listening is how we truly understand others, so it underpins learning, strong relationships, and good teamwork. Careful listening prevents misunderstandings, helps resolve conflict, and makes people feel valued and heard. In study and work it lets you absorb information accurately, which is why it is considered as vital as speaking.
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