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
Adam Rumanek, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024
The glasses come in a variety of fashion or sport styles, including a Prismatic collection with color-changing lenses to match any outfit, and a Music Shield version that includes subtle speakers in the temples to let wearers listen to music or take phone calls without headphones.
—Jessica Klein, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024
Take a listen to a little bit of what he's had to say.
—NBC News, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for listen 
Verb
Gamers are not only chatting while playing but also listening to music in the background alongside the in-game music the developers chose.
—Adam Rumanek, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024
The glasses come in a variety of fashion or sport styles, including a Prismatic collection with color-changing lenses to match any outfit, and a Music Shield version that includes subtle speakers in the temples to let wearers listen to music or take phone calls without headphones.
—Jessica Klein, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
The topic will assuredly be revisited again on the upcoming Modest Mouse album but will likely be shrouded in metaphors and colorful language that will require a few listens to sort out.
—Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024
Take a listen to a little bit of what he's had to say.
—NBC News, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for listen
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'listen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near listen
Cite this Entry
“Listen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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