1. Word finder
  2. Word definitions
  3. listen

Find the word definition

What is "listen"

Crossword clues for listen

listen
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
listen
I.verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a spelling/reading/listening test
▪ I didn’t do very well in the listening test.
easy listening
listen to a CD
▪ He's upstairs listening to his CDs.
listen to a commentary
▪ I was listening to the football commentary on the radio.
listen to a lecture
▪ Most students spend about a quarter of their time listening to lectures.
listen to a programme
▪ A lot of people listen to that programme on the way to work.
listen to gossip
▪ He was always willing to listen to gossip.
listen to music
▪ Ella was listening to music on her iPod.
listen to sb’s advice (also heed sb’s adviceformal) (= pay attention to someone’s advice)
▪ I wish I had listened to her advice.
listen to the radio
▪ She was sitting up in bed, listening to the radio.
listening device
look/listen/think etc carefully
▪ You need to think very carefully about which course you want to do.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
attentively
▪ Listen attentively and quietly to what your teenager thinks.
▪ He talked with them about everything-politics, religion, music-and listened attentively when they spoke.
▪ The accused, Eddie Gilfoyle, 32, listened attentively to the lengthy discussions.
▪ He moved quickly, and the students listened attentively.
▪ Laura listened attentively while Yoyo read the speech out loud, and in the end, her eyes were glistening too.
▪ The resource person listens attentively and reflects back what is said, in the L1, in a non-critical way.
▪ I sat up and listened attentively.
carefully
▪ Budgeting your time Before the exam begins, listen carefully to the instructions given by the invigilator.
▪ They were frank discussions and he listened carefully.
▪ Begin by listening carefully to how the bereaved speak about their loss.
▪ So listen carefully and take it to your hearts.
▪ She was standing slightly curled, listening carefully to some one.
▪ Gingrich listened carefully to the Tuesday Lunch Bunch, and sometimes came along to their meetings.
intently
▪ Johnny lifted his head, listening intently.
▪ Peter listened intently as Manion gave him a detailed account of the conversation.
▪ Pressing his ear to the edge of the door, he listened intently, while a full three minutes ticked past.
▪ The president listened intently and asked many questions.
▪ She smiled little and listened intently whenever the man, sober-suited and authoritative, spoke.
▪ They held their breath and listened intently.
▪ The dead were listening intently, enjoying the psychodrama.
▪ Miss Pinkerton, the math teacher; writes problems and equations on the board, and I listen intently to her explanations.
■ NOUN
conversation
▪ Four Galks stood listening to the conversation.
▪ I was certain that all the writers were listening to my conversation and were amused by it.
▪ Molassi had listened to the conversation between the clever boy and the pretty lady.
▪ Day after day, skilled linguists don headsets and listen to the stolen conversations of foreign leaders in more than 100 languages.
▪ I can also listen to a conversation between mining engineers and understand ninety-five percent of it, even after all these years.
▪ I melted into the wall and listened to snatches of conversation.
▪ Also, listening to people's conversations can be very enlightening and suggestive of ideas.
▪ I was listening to a conversation that had been going on for generations.
music
▪ The truth of the matter is that it depends on the person and not the music we listen to.
▪ Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
▪ Morris says, before noting that neither he nor the rest of the band is exclusive when it comes to music listening.
▪ Curve is interesting music to listen to even if you don't really like it.
▪ There is music that is heard, and there is music that must be listened to.
▪ The talk turns to music and Kiefer listens.
▪ If the music leads, you listen and sing with it.
news
▪ Countless thousands all over the globe listen to the hourly news broadcasts with interest, respect and admiration.
▪ He has called them here to listen to his news.
▪ She listened to the bad news without any noticeable reaction.
▪ I never read the papers very much, or listened to the news.
▪ Frank had no real interest in the radio, beyond sometimes listening to the sports news.
▪ At regular intervals, she listened to the news on the radio.
radio
▪ The age of people carrying radios around or listening in cars was undreamt of.
▪ We sat behind a berm and took off our radios while still listening to them.
▪ The idea behind radar was to send out radio waves and listen for echoes from enemy craft.
▪ Turned on the radio to listen to a play, but it was stupid, so went to bed.
▪ Frank had no real interest in the radio, beyond sometimes listening to the sports news.
record
▪ But one listens to her final records with dismay after hearing the fresh, uncanny beauty of the early ones.
▪ The two teenagers had only been listening to records, but the dad was pissed, none the less.
▪ I spent a lot of time listening to records and just hanging out with friends.
▪ They had a light supper, played backgammon for dimes, sat listening to records in the living room.
▪ He read some of Rosa's books, and listened to her records.
▪ So I usually sipped spicy tea and listened to records all night.
▪ When you listen to their records they're always a lot slower than you perceive them to be.
▪ I recommend that all my students listen to records at least two or three hours a day.
sound
▪ As she washed, she listened tensely for the sounds of movement.
▪ We would lie in bed together, listening to the sounds of Paris outside.
▪ Here ... Valerie listened for suspicious sounds on the tape, and despised herself for so doing.
▪ He listened to the muffled sound waver and fall in pitch, like a faraway siren.
▪ Claudia lying in her hut listening for the first sounds of life.
▪ But he was tired so he just lay there, listening to the street sounds, and waited for morning.
▪ In the complete and oppressive silence of his tomb, John listened for the sound of rescuers.
▪ We are hear to listen to the sounds of a didgeridoo.
story
▪ Pupils at Key Stage 2 will also benefit from listening to stories.
▪ But Paul listened quietly to her story and told her that he still wanted to marry her.
▪ She listened to the stories of small triumphs brought back from the dances.
▪ Toos and Alvin Sharpes arrived and sat on the stairs to listen to the story and stare at the storyteller.
▪ Thank you also for listening to my story.
▪ They listen to stories, memorize nursery rhymes, look at picture books and gain other experiences that prepare them to read.
▪ Trent had listened to stories of the 1961 hurricane.
▪ Opening their hearts to Jane, the brother finds her work in the village school and the sisters listen to her story.
voice
▪ Both of them listened to the raised voices.
▪ They had been listening to so many other voices, why would they not listen to the voices of their sons?
▪ One of Maya Angelou's own pleasures is listening to great voices.
▪ Emerson talks about listening to that inner voice and going with it, all voices to the contrary.
▪ But isn't it a problem that governments tend to listen to the voices of business, rather than civil society?
▪ Do not listen to those voices inside you who want to limit your potential.
▪ They have said that they need to listen to the voices of women and they are ready to do so.
▪ Now though, listening only to a voice, Rainville did believe her.
word
▪ She wasn't listening to a word he said.
▪ Jezebel ... Don't listen to a word they say.
▪ In fact, Barnabas opened his eyes and listened intently to every word.
▪ After that she stood in a hazy dream, listening to the words that made them husband and wife.
▪ I pause on the steps to listen to the words.
▪ This can help them overcome their tendency to listen for the words rather than the message.
▪ Evidently he was listening to every word we said.
■ VERB
lie
▪ In the dead of night I woke up for some reason, and lay listening to the others as they slept.
▪ I would lie in bed, listening to my parents whisper about them.
▪ She lay listening to these signs of a weather change and wondered whether Tristram had decided not to come after all.
▪ But he was tired so he just lay there, listening to the street sounds, and waited for morning.
▪ Later, as they lay in bed listening to the rain, John wondered how their new life together would ever work.
▪ But after we got into bed, and after Frank had fallen asleep, I lay awake, listening to him breathe.
▪ Claudia lying in her hut listening for the first sounds of life.
▪ I would wake up first and lie next to her listening to her breathing.
sit
▪ I could then sit and relax and listen to the other violinists.
▪ I sat quietly and listened to their exchange.
▪ In the small back room Danny Tanner sat listening to his old friend Billy Sullivan's problems.
▪ On the darkened deck of the Minerva they sat listening contentedly to Strauss waltzes from the stereo.
▪ Slim and in his sixties, he sat and listened as I proceeded to explain my mission.
▪ So I tell him about the search for her, and he sits and listens.
▪ Typically, 157 parents sit and listen as children read aloud, and assist with difficult sections of the text.
stand
▪ He stood and listened, stiff and unmoving.
▪ Had stood outside the window listening.
▪ He stood listening to the footsteps coming closer to him.
▪ She was standing slightly curled, listening carefully to some one.
▪ She could have stood there all day listening to him repeat it over and over again.
▪ There was a click, but she stood listening to the dial tone, steadied by its urgent drone.
▪ Four Galks stood listening to the conversation.
▪ I stood on that porch listening to the silence, watching the white clouds in the dark blue summer sky.
stop
▪ Will you please stop screaming and simply listen?
▪ Our unsolicited advice: Cut off the dreads, peel off the bumper sticker, and just stop listening to reggae entirely.
▪ Archie ignored the bell and continued talking but everyone stopped listening and started worming their way free of the hard plastic chairs.
▪ I stopped listening to Jake Rosso's records, and took his pictures off my bedroom wall.
▪ Some musicians were playing on the street, and the man stopped to listen.
▪ When he stopped, they listened, and heard answering barks.
▪ In hushed silence I stopped and listened.
watch
▪ Sara, watching, and listening to him, felt her heart expand with sweetness.
▪ Voters expecting to meet him were asked instead to watch a video and listen to a telephone conference call.
▪ Dustin spent hours watching and listening to the old man.
▪ Finally, I asked if he minded if I watched, and listened.
▪ You were the one there, on the edge, watching and listening.
▪ Jody stands outside the circle, watching and listening.
▪ Theodora had followed her brief and for three months she had watched and listened.
▪ But my daughter no longer watches or listens to me.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
you only have to read/look at/listen to etc sth
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ Listen! There's someone coming upstairs!
▪ Listen, don't panic. I'm sure we can get your money back.
▪ Listen, I've just had a really good idea.
▪ He listened carefully to every word I said.
▪ I could listen to Placido Domingo all day -- he has such a beautiful voice!
▪ I didn't hear the answer, because I wasn't listening when she read it out.
▪ If you listen hard, you can hear the sound of the sea in the distance.
▪ If you listened in class you might get better grades.
▪ Mrs Singh leaned forward, listening intently as they explained the procedure to her.
▪ The company has begun to listen more carefully to its customers, in a determined attempt to improve customer service.
▪ You had better be listening because I'm not going to repeat myself.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ He listened to relaxation tapes and practiced breathing exercises to stop hyperventilating.
▪ I also listen to Oscar Peterson.
▪ I could hear foreign voices raised in the kitchen and stopped listening to my companions.
▪ Jezebel ... Don't listen to a word they say.
▪ One of Maya Angelou's own pleasures is listening to great voices.
▪ Take the time to sit back and listen and establish a routine for yourself.
▪ They had to sit listening to talk about people they had not met, only heard of.
▪ Why should the adventurers stop and listen to any of this?
II.noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ So go on Sounds readers, give All a listen.
▪ They're definitely worth a listen.
Related phrases:
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Listen

Listen \Lis"ten\, v. t. To attend to. [Obs.]
--Shak.

Listen

Listen \Lis"ten\ (l[i^]s"'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Listened (l[i^]s"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Listening.] [OE. listnen, listen, lustnen, lusten, AS. hlystan; akin to hlyst hearing, OS. hlust, Icel. hlusta to listen, hlust ear, AS. hlosnian to wait in suspense, OHG. hlos[=e]n to listen, Gr. kly`ein, and E. loud. [root]4

  1. See Loud, and cf. List to listen.] 1. To give close attention with the purpose of hearing; to give ear; to hearken; to attend.

    When we have occasion to listen, and give a more particular attention to some sound, the tympanum is drawn to a more than ordinary tension.
    --Holder.

  2. To give heed; to yield to advice; to follow admonition; to obey.

    Listen to me, and by me be ruled.
    --Tennyson.

    To listen after, to take an interest in. [Obs.]

    Soldiers note forts, armories, and magazines; scholars listen after libraries, disputations, and professors.
    --Fuller.

    Syn: To attend; hearken. See Attend.

Related phrases:
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
listen

Old English hlysnan "to listen," from Proto-Germanic *khlusinon (cognates: Dutch luisteren, Old High German hlosen "to listen," German lauschen "to listen"), from PIE root *kleu- "hearing, to hear" (cognates: Sanskrit srnoti "hears," srosati "hears, obeys;" Avestan sraothra "ear;" Middle Persian srod "hearing, sound;" Lithuanian klausau "to hear," slove "splendor, honor;" Old Church Slavonic slusati "to hear," slava "fame, glory," slovo "word;" Greek klyo "hear, be called," kleos "report, rumor, fame glory," kleio "make famous;" Latin cluere "to hear oneself called, be spoken of;" Old Irish ro-clui-nethar "hears," clunim "I hear," clu "fame, glory," cluada "ears;" Welsh clywaf "I hear;" Old English hlud "loud," hleoðor "tone, tune;" Old High German hlut "sound;" Gothic hiluþ "listening, attention"). The -t- probably is by influence of Old English hlystan (see list (v.2)). For vowel evolution, see bury. As a noun from 1788 (on the listen "alert").

Wiktionary
listen

vb. (lb en intransitive) To pay attention to a sound or speech.

Related phrases:
WordNet
listen

  1. v. hear with intention; "Listen to the sound of this cello"

  2. listen and pay attention; "Listen to your father"; "We must hear the expert before we make a decision" [syn: hear, take heed]

  3. pay close attention to; give heed to; "Heed the advice of the old men" [syn: heed, mind]

Related phrases:
Wikipedia
Listen (TQ album)

Listen is the third album by R&B singer TQ. It was released on August 31, 2004 in the United States and October 17, 2005 in the United Kingdom.

Listen (A Flock of Seagulls album)

Listen was the second album release by the UK new wave band A Flock of Seagulls, released in 1983. It teamed the musical group with record producer Mike Howlett again, except on the single release " (It's Not Me) Talking" which was produced by Bill Nelson. The record included the UK Top 10 hit " Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)". Other singles released from the album include "Nightmares" and "Transfer Affection". The person's face on its sleeve cover is that of the band's drummer, Ali Score.

Listen (Jordan Rudess album)

Listen is an album recorded and released by Jordan Rudess in 1993.

This is Rudess' second studio album, his first being Arrival released in 1988. In 1994 Jordan was named "Best New Talent" by Keyboard Magazine. The award was given to him based upon his live performances and this album.

Listen

Listen may refer to:

  • the action of listening
  • Central auditory system listening is how the brain processes what you hear
  • Listening behaviour types in human communication
Listen (C21 album)

Listen is the second and final album from the Danish boy band C21, released on May 24, 2004.

Listen (Cindy Morgan album)

Listen is the fourth album from Contemporary Christian music singer Cindy Morgan. It was released in 1996 by Word Records. It moved further from dance-pop into a singer-songwriterly vein.

Listen (Christy Moore album)

Listen is an album by Irish folk singer Christy Moore, released in Ireland on 17 April 2009 by Columbia Records. Recorded with long-time accompanist Declan Sinnott, it is his first studio album since 2005's Burning Times. The album debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart.

Listen (EP)

Listen is the first EP by the Pinoy rock band Stonefree, released under Warner Music Philippines in 2004.

Listen (Collective Soul song)

"Listen" is a song by the American post-grunge band Collective Soul. It is the second single from their third studio album, Disciplined Breakdown.

Listen (Emanuel and the Fear album)

Listen is the first full-length album from Brooklyn-based symphonic rock band Emanuel and the Fear and was released via Paper Garden in March 2010.

Listen (business)

Listen Fundraising is a UK-based telemarketing company that conducts telephone fundraising, mobile fundraising, and legacy fundraising campaigns on behalf of charitable and non-charitable institutions.

Listen (Beyoncé song)

"Listen" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé. The song was written by Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, and Beyoncé, and produced by The Underdogs, Matt Sullivan and Randy Spendlove for the 2006 musical film Dreamgirls, in which Beyoncé's character Deena Jones sings the song in an expression of independence from her controlling husband. Columbia Records released "Listen" as the lead single from the Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture soundtrack album on December 5, 2006. It additionally appeared as a hidden track on international editions, and on the deluxe edition of Beyoncé's second solo studio album, B'Day. The Spanish version of the song, "Oye", was released on the EP, Irreemplazable, and the Spanish deluxe edition of B'Day.

One of four new songs written for the feature version of Dreamgirls (originally a 1981 Broadway musical) "Listen" is a soul- R&B song; its lyrics make reference to tenacity, love, the refusal to defer dreams and finally rise towards fame. Its instrumentation includes bass, drums, guitars, keyboards, percussion, and violins, among others. The song was a critical success. Contemporary music critics complimented the strong and emotional vocals of Beyoncé, and added that the lyrics perfectly elaborate on Deena Jones's life. "Listen" won Best Original Song at the 2007 Critics' Choice Awards. It was nominated in the same category at the 2006 International Press Academy Satellite Award, at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards, and at the 2007 Academy Awards.

"Listen" peaked at number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and generally peaked inside the top 20 positions in European countries. It fared better in the United Kingdom where it reached number eight thanks to a live duet performance of Beyoncé and Alexandra Burke at The X Factor, where Burke emerged as the winner after singing "Listen" during the finale. The song was also covered by Charice and Melanie Amaro during the finale of the first season of the The X Factor in the US, where she emerged as the winner. Two accompanying music videos were filmed for "Listen"; the performance version was directed by Diane Martel, and the second one, being Vogue Shoot Version, was directed by Matthew Rolston. "Listen" was also a part of her set list on The Beyoncé Experience (2007) and I Am... Tour (2009–10).

Listen (Doctor Who)

"Listen" is the fourth episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who, first broadcast on BBC One on 13 September 2014. It was written by Steven Moffat and directed by Douglas Mackinnon.

In the episode, alien time traveller the Doctor ( Peter Capaldi) attempts to track down a creature with the perfected ability to hide, while his companion Clara Oswald ( Jenna Coleman) struggles with her relationship with her boyfriend Danny Pink ( Samuel Anderson).

"Listen" was originally watched by 4.81 million viewers in the UK and received critical acclaim for its script, direction and performances.

Listen (The Kooks album)

Listen is the fourth studio album by British rock band The Kooks. It was released on 8 September 2014 through Universal. It is the band's first album to feature new drummer Alexis Nunez who joined in 2012, replacing Paul Garred. The album was preceded by singles " Down", "Around Town", "Bad Habit" and "Forgive & Forget".

Stylistically, the album differs from the band's previous work as elements of jazz, gospel, and R&B were added into the music. This album also marks the first time Tony Hoffer did not produce the band's work. Instead production was handled by Inflo, Luke Pritchard and Fraser T Smith.

Listen is the band's first album in three years, with Junk of the Heart being released in September 2011. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and London.

Upon its release, Listen debuted at No. 16 on the UK Albums Chart and failed to meet the commercial expectations set forth by the band's previous work.

Listen (David Guetta song)

"Listen" is a song by French DJ and music producer David Guetta, featuring vocals from American singer John Legend from the album of the same name.

Listen (horse)

Listen (foaled 3 February 2005) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed her best form as a two-year-old in 2007 she won the Listed Saoire Stakes on her debut, finished second in both the Debutante Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes and then recorded her biggest success in the Group One Fillies' Mile. Her subsequent racing career was compromised by injury and she made little impact in two races as a three-year-old. She has made some impact as a broodmare in Japan.

Listen (David Guetta album)

Listen is the sixth studio album by French DJ and record producer David Guetta. It was released on 21 November 2014. It features collaborations with artists from the R&B, hip hop, alternative rock and pop worlds such as Sam Martin, Emeli Sandé, The Script, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Nico & Vinz, Ryan Tedder (the lead singer of pop rock band OneRepublic), Sia, Magic!, Bebe Rexha, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ms. Dynamite, Elliphant, Birdy, Jaymes Young, Sonny Wilson, Vassy, and Skylar Grey. It also features additional production from Guetta's frequent collaborator Giorgio Tuinfort, Avicii, Afrojack, Nicky Romero, Showtek, and Stadiumx among others, with additional writing credits from Austin Bisnow, Jason Evigan, Julie Frost, and The-Dream among others.

Listen was preceded by the release of four singles: " Shot Me Down", " Bad", " Lovers on the Sun" and " Dangerous". The album reached the top 10 in eighteen countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

The album was reissued in 2015 as Listen Again.

Related phrases:

Usage examples of "listen".

Lily attempted to regain her ability to breathe, listening to the next song, a slow, moody number.

He had given the name of Stanley Adams, and had had such a queerly thick droning voice, that it made the clerk abnormally dizzy and sleepy to listen to him.

I was sitting there listening to her go on about abortion, I casually made an off-mike comment to my call screener that I wished I could abort this call.

The wound was still abscessed, its dressing changed twice a day, but now Harper and Isabella had to wipe the sweat that poured from Sharpe and listen to the ravings that he muttered day and night.

The entire county could be listening in, but too much time had passed and Banish needed to talk to Abies now.

I listen for a New York accent, but all I hear is her short-O Flooorida tone.

I remarked their English accents and listened vaguely to their conversation.

The Acceptor was enthralled by the angry voices that churned below, and listened with all its might.

Jayme has read your reports and listened to the news from the north of Achar with growing alarm.

These words are read out by the priest in a deep voice to all who are about to observe the Holy Supper, and are listened to by them in full acknowledgment that they are true.

David and Deborah his manner remained always the same, jestingly ironic, scornfully loquacious, lovingly friendly of a sudden, then for a day, two days, a week utterly silent, while his eyes roved, his ears were acock listening for a step.

I listened patiently to all the complaints of the mother who maintained that, in giving up the character of castrato, Therese had bidden adieu to fortune, because she might have earned a thousand sequins a year in Rome.

The gypsy stopped abruptly, and turned an eye, in which menace vainly struggled with good-humour, upon each of his brethren, as they submissively bowed to him and his protege, and poured forth a profusion of promises, to which their admonitor did not even condescend to listen.

I soaked it up like a sponge, listening eagerly to the advice of adoptive parents, their grown children, clinical psychologists, advocates, social workers, and adoption resource professionals.

But pray, listen: all human beings who are born, however numerous and of whatever religion, can be saved if only they acknowledge God and live according to the precepts of the Decalog, which forbid committing murder, adultery, theft, and false witness because to do such things is contrary to religion and therefore contrary to God.