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
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Trump cut short a Pennsylvania town hall this week to listen and sway to music for more than half an hour.
—Ivana Saric, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2024
Take a listen to the Trouble In Paradise, which features Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, YG Marley, and Anderson .Paak below.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for listen 
Verb
In Southern California, fans can listen to the game on the radio at 93.1 FM.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Trump cut short a Pennsylvania town hall this week to listen and sway to music for more than half an hour.
—Ivana Saric, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
Its extraordinary diversity spans trap, reggaetón, R&B, Jersey club and house — each track showcasing Omar’s skill in melding diverse styles to forge a colorful listen.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2024
Take a listen to the Trouble In Paradise, which features Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, YG Marley, and Anderson .Paak below.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 25 Sep. 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 30 Oct. 2024.
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