A1verb 1K

Listen

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˈlɪsn/","/ˈlɪsnz/","/ˈlɪsnd/","/ˈlɪsnɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˈlɪsn/","/ˈlɪsnz/","/ˈlɪsnd/","/ˈlɪsnɪŋ/"]/

Meaning of Listen

to pay attention to somebody/something that you can hear

In simple words: to hear something carefully

Listen in a sentence

• Please listen carefully to the instructions.
• Did you listen to the new song by that artist?
• It's important to listen when others are speaking.
• I like to listen to podcasts while I exercise.
• Can you listen for the bell and tell me when it rings?

How to use Listen

Use 'listen' when you want to indicate paying attention to sounds. It's appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using it in very casual speech, where 'hear' might be more common.

Grammar pattern

listen + to + object

Memory hint

Think of 'listen' as 'listening in' closely to what people are saying.

Related words

Collocations with Listen

• actively
• attentively
• carefully
• will
• would
• not bother to
• for
• to
• listen with one ear
• actively
• attentively
• carefully
• will
• would
• not bother to
• for
• to
• listen with one ear

Synonyms for Listen

• hear
• pay attention
• tune in
• hearken
• eavesdrop

Opposites of Listen

• ignore
• disregard

Common mistakes with Listen

• 'Listen' is often confused with 'hear' — remember, 'listen' means paying attention.
• 'Listening' as a noun can be incorrectly used as 'listen' in wrong contexts.
• Learners may omit 'to' and say 'listen music' instead of 'listen to music'.

Frequently asked questions about Listen

What does Listen mean?

to hear something carefully

What is the definition of Listen?

to pay attention to somebody/something that you can hear

How do you use Listen in a sentence?

Please listen carefully to the instructions.

Can you give another example of Listen?

Did you listen to the new song by that artist?

What are synonyms for Listen?

Common alternatives include hear, pay attention, tune in, hearken, eavesdrop.

What is the opposite of Listen?

Opposite meanings include ignore, disregard.

What words go with Listen?

It commonly pairs with actively, attentively, carefully, will, would, not bother to, for, to, listen with one ear, actively, attentively, carefully, will, would, not bother to, for, to, listen with one ear.

What are common mistakes when using Listen?

'Listen' is often confused with 'hear' — remember, 'listen' means paying attention. 'Listening' as a noun can be incorrectly used as 'listen' in wrong contexts. Learners may omit 'to' and say 'listen music' instead of 'listen to music'.

How do you pronounce Listen?

US: /["/ˈlɪsn/","/ˈlɪsnz/","/ˈlɪsnd/","/ˈlɪsnɪŋ/"]/, UK: /["/ˈlɪsn/","/ˈlɪsnz/","/ˈlɪsnd/","/ˈlɪsnɪŋ/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Listen?

Use 'listen' when you want to indicate paying attention to sounds. It's appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using it in very casual speech, where 'hear' might be more common.

What CEFR level is Listen?

"Listen" is at A1 level on the CEFR scale.