From Middle English listenen, listnen, alteration (due to Middle English listen) of Old English hlysnan, from Proto-Germanic *hlusnijaną, *hlusnōną (compare Middle High German lüsenen), from Proto-Germanic *hlusēną (compare Old High German hlosēn), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (compare Ancient Greek κλαίω, Welsh clywed, Latin clueō, Lithuanian klausýti, Church Slavic слушати, Sanskrit श्रोषति.

• enPR: lĭs'ən, lĭs'n, IPA: /ˈlɪs.ən/, [ˈlɪs.n̩]

listen (listens, present participle listening; simple past and past participle listened)

1. (intransitive except in archaic usage) To use one's sense of hearing in an intentional way; to make deliberate use of one's ears; to pay attention to or wait for a specific sound.

   Synonyms: heed, mind, note, pay attention, attend

   Antonyms: ignore

   Please listen carefully as I explain.

   • 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC ↗, page 01 ↗:

     It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. […]. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.

   • 1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 4, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y., London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC ↗:

     He reined Wrangle to a walk, halted now and then to listen, and then proceeded cautiously with shifting and alert gaze.

   • 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC ↗:

     He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement.

     (transitive, archaic)

     • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XX:

       'But, sir, lyars ye have lystened, and that hath caused grete debate betwyxte you and me.'

     • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act V, scene iii]:

       Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

     • a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC ↗:

       Here laid his Scrip, with wholesome Viands fill'd, / There, listening every Noise, his watchful Dog.

   • [with to]

   • I like to listen to music.

   • [with for]

   • You should listen for the starting gun.

2. (intransitive) To accept advice or obey instruction; to agree or assent.

   Synonyms: mind

   Antonyms: disregard

   Listen, the only reason I yelled at you was because I was upset, OK?

   Good children listen to their parents.

   • 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC ↗:

     Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest […].

• See also Thesaurus:listen

• French: écouter
• German: hören, zuhören
• Italian: ascoltare
• Portuguese: escutar
• Russian: слу́шать
• Spanish: escuchar

• French: tendre l'oreille, guetter
• German: lauschen
• Italian: stare in ascolto per, sentire
• Portuguese: escutar
• Russian: слу́шать
• Spanish: escuchar

• French: écouter
• German: hören
• Italian: dare ascolto, dar retta
• Portuguese: ouvir
• Russian: слу́шать
• Spanish: escuchar

• French: écouter
• German: hören
• Italian: sentire
• Portuguese: escutar, ouvir
• Russian: слы́шать
• Spanish: oír

listen (plural listens)

1. An instance of listening.

   Synonyms: play

   Give the motor a listen and tell me if it sounds off.