listen
♦♦ lis|ten /l'ɪsən/ (listens listening listened)
1 [VERB] V to n, V
If you listen to someone who is talking or to a sound, you give your attention to them or it.
He spent his time listening to the radio...
Sonia was not listening.
● listener [N-COUNT]
One or two listeners had fallen asleep while the President was speaking.
2 [VERB] V for n, V
If you listen for a sound, you keep alert and are ready to hear it if it occurs.
We listen for footsteps approaching...
They're both asleep upstairs, but you don't mind listening just in case of trouble, do you?
[PHRASAL VERB] V P for n, also V P
Listen out means the same as listen. (BRIT)
I didn't really listen out for the lyrics.
3 [VERB] V to n, V
If you listen to someone, you do what they advise you to do, or you believe them.
Anne, you need to listen to me this time...
When I asked him to stop, he would not listen.
4 [CONVENTION]
You say listen when you want someone to pay attention to you because you are going to say something important.
Listen, I finish at one.
= looklisten in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to/on n, also V P
If you listen in to a private conversation, you secretly listen to it.
He assigned federal agents to listen in on Martin Luther King's phone calls.
= eavesdrop
1 [VERB] V to n, V
If you listen to someone who is talking or to a sound, you give your attention to them or it.
He spent his time listening to the radio...
Sonia was not listening.
● listener [N-COUNT]
One or two listeners had fallen asleep while the President was speaking.
2 [VERB] V for n, V
If you listen for a sound, you keep alert and are ready to hear it if it occurs.
We listen for footsteps approaching...
They're both asleep upstairs, but you don't mind listening just in case of trouble, do you?
[PHRASAL VERB] V P for n, also V P
Listen out means the same as listen. (BRIT)
I didn't really listen out for the lyrics.
3 [VERB] V to n, V
If you listen to someone, you do what they advise you to do, or you believe them.
Anne, you need to listen to me this time...
When I asked him to stop, he would not listen.
4 [CONVENTION]
You say listen when you want someone to pay attention to you because you are going to say something important.
Listen, I finish at one.
= looklisten in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to/on n, also V P
If you listen in to a private conversation, you secretly listen to it.
He assigned federal agents to listen in on Martin Luther King's phone calls.
= eavesdrop