listen

Pronunciation

• enPR: lĭs'ən or lĭs'n, IPA ^(key): /ˈlɪs.ən/ or [ˈlɪs.n̩]

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• Hyphenation: lis‧ten

Verb

Plain form listen

Third-person singular listens

Past tense listened

Past participle listened

Present participle listening

a man listening to something

1. (intransitive) If you listen to something, you try to hear and understand it.

   Shhh! Listen! Did you hear that?

   She listened carefully to what he said, but it was hard to understand.

   OK, listen up. Here's what we'll do...

2. (intransitive) If you listen to someone, you agree with them, believe them, or do what they tell you.

   Don't listen to him. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

   If you listen to your mother, you won't go wrong.

Related words

• listener

Noun

Singular listen

Plural listens

1. (countable) If you give something a listen, you try to hear and understand it.

   Do you want to have a listen to this new band?