listener

noun

lis·​ten·​er ˈli-sᵊn-ər 

ˈlis-nər

plural listeners

: one who listens to someone or something

a radio program with many listeners

a friend who's a good listener [=who listens attentively and sympathetically]

Fanny, being always a very courteous listener, and often the only listener at hand, came in for the complaints and distresses of most of them.

—Jane Austen

The average concertgoer drifts in and out of the music, often losing the thread. The listener can't always hear the music in the music, and tends to notice only the most obvious (usually the loudest) events.

—David Schiff

Examples of listener in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Harris’ talk with Cooper focused on reproductive rights, but also allowed the candidate to give listeners a window into her upbringing and background as a prosecutor. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

There are viewers and listeners in the center of the Venn diagram that those projects form, but Gaga has also demonstrated an ability to cater to different audiences by allowing her creativity to roam free. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024

Taylor Wilson: Here to serve the reader and the listener. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

And so, when his recording and stage schedule allows, the 39-year-old makes time for serenity—and for indulging his love of romantic French opera, as a listener rather than a singer. —Nora Taylor, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above