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
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Feb. 2025
My clients will happily listen to any and all points of view, but at the end of the day, my clients are the ones with a new positive vision for the production.
—Peter White, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2025
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, take a listen to some of The Isley Brother’s romantic crooning below.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 14 Feb. 2025
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Verb
That absence of fear or outside influence is immediate upon listen.
—Noun
Take a listen to the song on Spotify, Apple Music, or anywhere music is streamed.
—Cite this Entry
“Listen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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