Listen Definition

lĭsən

listened, listening, listens

verb

listened, listening, listens

To make a conscious effort to hear; attend closely, so as to hear.

Webster's New World

To pay attention to by listening; hear.

Webster's New World

To pay close attention; take advice.

Webster's New World

(archaic) To hear (something or someone), to pay attention to.

Wiktionary

(intransitive) To expect or wait for a sound, such as a signal.

You should listen for the starting gun.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

The act of listening.

Webster's New World

idiom

listen in

Webster's New World

listen up!

Webster's New World

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Listen

From Middle English listnen, alteration (interpreted as frequentative of listen) from Old English hlysnan, from Proto-Germanic *hlūsinōną (compare Middle High German lüsenen), from *hlusēną (compare Old High German hlosēn), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (“to hear”) (compare Ancient Greek κλαίω (klaiō, “I make known, famous”), Latin clueō (“I am famous”), Lithuanian klausýti, Old Church Slavonic слѹшати (slušati, “to hear”), Sanskrit श्रोषति (śróṣati). Related to loud.

From Wiktionary
Middle English listenen alteration (influenced by listen to list, listen list⁴) of Old English hlysnan kleu- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition