listen for
idiom
: to pay attention to sounds in order to hear (something expected)
We listened for (the sound of) his footsteps.
We saw lightning and listened for the thunder.
Examples of listen for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When the spacecraft fly over radio-quiet antenna arrays, tuned to listen for the quietest radio waves coming from distant galaxies, the noise from the satellites' internal electronics obscures some of the precious observation frequencies even when Earth-facing internet beams are switched off.
—
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
This is a better way: Move beyond outrage, listen for what’s at stake for our neighbors, and then build durable solutions where strong agreement is possible.
—William Doherty, Twin Cities, 4 Sep. 2025
The podcast is well worth a listen for insights into global market dynamics.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
More importantly, the most recent of these sightings, just two years ago, was by a railroad passenger, so keep a lookout for a tall, hairy figure, or for massive footprints, which are also commonly reported, and listen for the mysterious creature’s spine-tingling howls.
—The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen for
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
This is a better way: Move beyond outrage, listen for what’s at stake for our neighbors, and then build durable solutions where strong agreement is possible.
—William Doherty, Twin Cities, 4 Sep. 2025
The podcast is well worth a listen for insights into global market dynamics.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
More importantly, the most recent of these sightings, just two years ago, was by a railroad passenger, so keep a lookout for a tall, hairy figure, or for massive footprints, which are also commonly reported, and listen for the mysterious creature’s spine-tingling howls.
—The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for listen for
Cite this Entry
“Listen for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listen%20for. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share