Listen

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪsən/

Definitions of listen

verb to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.

Example Sentences

A1 Listen to the teacher carefully.

A2 I like to listen to music while I study.

B1 It's important to listen to feedback from your colleagues.

B2 I always listen to podcasts on my way to work.

C1 She listened intently as the expert explained the new research findings.

C2 In order to truly understand, one must listen with an open mind and heart.

Examples of listen in a Sentence

formal It is important to listen carefully during the meeting to fully understand the discussion.

informal Hey, listen up! I have something important to tell you.

slang Listen, I'm not gonna lie, that party was lit.

figurative Sometimes you have to listen to your heart and trust your instincts.

Grammatical Forms of listen

• past tense: listened
• plural: listen
• comparative: more attentive
• superlative: most attentive
• present tense: listen
• future tense: will listen
• perfect tense: have listened
• continuous tense: listening
• singular: listens
• positive degree: attentive
• infinitive: to listen
• gerund: listening
• participle: listened

Origin and Evolution of listen

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'listen' originated from the Old English word 'hlysnan' which means 'to hear attentively'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'listen' has retained its original meaning of paying attention to sound, but has also evolved to encompass actively engaging with and understanding what is being heard.