Inflected forms: lis·tened, lis·ten·ing, lis·tens 1. To make an effort to hear something: listen to the radio; listening for the bell.2. To pay attention; heed: “She encouraged me to listen carefully to what country people called mother wit” (Maya Angelou).
NOUN:
An act of listening: Would you like to give the CD a listen before buying it?
PHRASAL VERB:
listen in1. To listen to a conversation between others; eavesdrop. 2. To tune in and listen to a broadcast.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English listenen, alteration (influenced by listen, to list, listen; see list4) of Old English hlysnan; see kleu- in Appendix I.
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