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

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

1. (intransitive) To pay attention to a sound or speech.

   Please listen carefully as I explain.  I like to listen to music.

2. (intransitive) To expect or wait for a sound, such as a signal.

   You should listen for the starting gun.

   • 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., OCLC 580270828 ↗, 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: A Novel, New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, OCLC 6868219 ↗:

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

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

   Listen, the only reason I yelled at you was because I was upset, OK?  Good children listen to their parents.

   • 1945 August 17, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 1, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473 ↗:

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

4. (transitive, archaic) To hear (something or someone), to pay attention to.
   • 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.’

   • 1592, William Shakespeare, 1 Hen VI: v 3

     Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

• (to pay attention) attend, behear, give ear, hark, hear, heed, list, mind, note, pay attention
• (to expect or wait for a sound) await, anticipate, expect, wait for
• (to accept advice or instruction) agree, assent, hearken, mind, obey
• (to hear) hear, mind, heed
• See also Thesaurus:listen

• (to pay attention) ignore
• (to accept advice or instruction) disobey, disregard

• list
• listful

• 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