listen
verb/ˈlɪsn/
/ˈlɪsn/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they listen | /ˈlɪsn/ /ˈlɪsn/ |
| he / she / it listens | /ˈlɪsnz/ /ˈlɪsnz/ |
| past simple listened | /ˈlɪsnd/ /ˈlɪsnd/ |
| past participle listened | /ˈlɪsnd/ /ˈlɪsnd/ |
| -ing form listening | /ˈlɪsnɪŋ/ /ˈlɪsnɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to pay attention to somebody/something that you can hear
- Listen! What's that noise? Can you hear it?
- Sorry, I wasn't really listening.
- He had been listening at the door.
- listen to somebody/something to listen to music/the radio
- to listen to a song/an album
- I listened carefully to her story.
- He was listening intently to what she was saying.
- You haven’t been listening to a word I’ve said!
Extra ExamplesTopics TV, radio and newsa1, Musica1- He was hardly listening, for he had too much on his mind.
- I listened with half an ear to the conversation at the next table.
- I was listening to the radio.
- Lucy was only half listening to their conversation.
- Now, listen very carefully to what she says.
- Pym listened impassively until the woman had finished.
- The guests were listening with great interest.
- They listened to the announcement in silence.
- We listened politely to his stories.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- actively
- attentively
- carefully
- …
- will
- would
- not bother to
- …
- for
- to
- listen with one ear
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [intransitive] (informal) used to tell somebody to take notice of what you are going to say
- Listen, there's something I have to tell you.
- [intransitive] to take notice of what somebody says to you so that you follow their advice or believe them
- I tried to warn her, but she wouldn't listen.
- listen to somebody/something None of this would have happened if you'd listened to me.
- The government is willing to listen to any concerns that people have.
- Why won't you listen to reason?
Extra Examples- You need to listen to me!
- He refused to listen to her explanation.
- You never listen to a word I say!
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- actively
- attentively
- carefully
- …
- will
- would
- not bother to
- …
- for
- to
- listen with one ear
More Like This Silent lettersSilent letters
Word OriginOld English hlysnan ‘pay attention to’, of Germanic origin.
Check pronunciation:
listen