listen

Meanings

Verb

• To pay attention to a sound or speech.
• To expect or wait for a sound, such as a signal.
• To accept advice or obey instruction; to agree or assent.
• To hear (something or someone), to pay attention to.

Noun

• An instance of listening.

Related

Similar words

• attend, behear, give ear, hark, hear, heed, list, mind, note, pay attention
• await, anticipate, expect, wait for
• agree, assent, hearken, mind, obey
• hear, mind, heed

Opposite words

• ignore
• disobey, disregard

Origin

• 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 ("I make known, famous"), Welsh clywed ("to hear"), Latin clueō ("I am famous"), Lithuanian klausýti, Old Church Slavonic слѹшати ("to hear"), Sanskrit श्रोषति. Related to loud and German lauschen.