listens;
listened;
listening
listens;
listened;
listening
Britannica Dictionary definition of LISTEN
[no object]
1
a
:
to pay attention to someone or something in order to hear what is being said, sung, played, etc.
-
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.
—
often + to
-
Everyone listened closely/carefully to the firefighter's instructions.
-
I enjoy listening to classical music.
-
He turned the radio on and listened to the news.
b
—
used to tell a person to listen to what you are saying
-
Listen, no one is more concerned about this problem than I am.
-
Now listen (here), you can't keep treating people this way.
2
:
to hear what someone has said and understand that it is serious, important, or true
—
often + to
-
Nobody listened to her warnings.
-
Her ideas are worth listening to.
-
I told him to be more careful, but he wouldn't listen to me.
-
You should listen to your father [=you should take your father's advice]: he knows what he's talking about.
-
The judge refused to listen to their pleas.
listen for
[phrasal verb]
or British
listen out for
listen for (something)
or Brit
listen out for (something)
:
to pay attention to sounds in order to hear (something expected)
listen in
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to listen to a radio broadcast
2
:
to listen to a conversation without being part of it
especially
:
to listen secretly to a private conversation
:
eavesdrop
—
usually + on
listen up
[phrasal verb]
chiefly US, informal
:
to listen closely to what is being said
—
usually used as a command
— listener
/ˈlɪsn̩ɚ/
noun,
plural
listeners
[count]
2
listen
/ˈlɪsn̩/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of LISTEN
[singular]
:
the act of listening to something