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

There will also be a category inviting votes from general music listeners. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2024

Elsewhere in the podcast, which takes listeners behind the scenes to reminisce about Carvey and Spade's favorite SNL moments, memories, and sketches with special guests, Villaseñor chats about her six years with the long-running comedy show, her experience doing singing impressions, and more. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2024

This is Senator Ted Cruz, who many of the listeners will probably know. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024

One, because there's a wonderful tradition, from Anaïs Mitchell in Hadestown all the way back to Pete Townsend with Tommy, of writing the songs in this order and the listener connecting the dots and making the experience in their heads. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above