listened; listening
ˈli-sᵊn-iŋ 
ˈlis-niŋ
1
: to pay attention to sound
listen to music
2
: to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration
listen to a plea
3
: to be alert to catch an expected sound
listen for his step
archaic
: to give ear to : hear
Examples of listen in a Sentence
Verb
I listened as hard as I could, but I couldn't hear a word of what he said over all that noise.
She listened with interest as he told her about his travels.
She tried to warn him of the dangers, but he wouldn't listen.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
To listen to these recordings, to go back as far as the turn of the century, to the beginning of recorded sound to the present is to hear points in a timeline, to time travel.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
The wrong approach relies exclusively on leverage and threats, ignores underlying concerns, bypasses process considerations, talks more than listens, and creates atmospheres of hostility that undermine long-term relationships.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen
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Verb
This puts you in a better position to first listen and then guide employees to resources better equipped to help them.
—Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
To listen to these recordings, to go back as far as the turn of the century, to the beginning of recorded sound to the present is to hear points in a timeline, to time travel.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
Today's listen Evelyn Freja for NPR Rising harpist Ashley Jackson embraces African American spirituals, jazz and West African rhythms in her sophomore album, Take Me to The Water.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
The wrong approach relies exclusively on leverage and threats, ignores underlying concerns, bypasses process considerations, talks more than listens, and creates atmospheres of hostility that undermine long-term relationships.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen
Cite this Entry
“Listen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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