Synonyms for listen
ˈlɪs ənlis·ten

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.3 / 4 votes

1. listenverb

   To pay attention to a sound, to note.

   Synonyms:
   attend, give ear, mind, heed, wait for, pay attention, obey, note, expect, await, anticipate, list, hear, hark

   Antonyms:
   ignore

2. listenverb

   To wait for a sound, such as a signal.

   You should listen for the starting gun.

   Synonyms:
   heed, mind, pay attention, hear, attend, anticipate, give ear, list, note, await, obey, hark, wait for, expect

3. listenverb

   To accept or obey oral instruction.

   Good children listen to their parents.

   Synonyms:
   anticipate, heed, obey, note, list, wait for, give ear, expect, hear, await, attend, pay attention, mind, hark

   Antonyms:
   disregard, disobey

4. listenverb

   To hear (something or someone), to pay attention to.

   Synonyms:
   await, heed, expect, mind, hear, attend, wait for, anticipate, obey, hark, list, note, give ear, pay attention

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. listen

   Between listen and hear is a difference like that between the words look and see. (Compare synonyms for LOOK.) To hear is simply to become conscious of sound, to listen is to make a conscious effort or endeavor to hear. We may hear without listening, as words suddenly uttered in an adjoining room; or we may listen without hearing, as to a distant speaker. In listening the ear is intent upon the sound; in attending the mind is intent upon the thought, tho listening implies some attention to the meaning or import of the sound. To heed is not only to attend, but to remember and observe. Harken is nearly obsolete.

   Synonyms:
   attend, hark, harken, hear, heed, list

   Antonyms:
   be deaf to, ignore, neglect, scorn, slight

   Preposition:
   We listen for what we expect or desire to hear; we listen to what we actually do hear; listen for a step, a signal, a train; listen to the debate.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. listen

   Synonyms:
   hear, attend, hearken, incline, give ear, heed

   Antonyms:
   disregard, ignore, refuse, repudiate

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. listenverb

   hear with intention

   "Listen to the sound of this cello"

   Synonyms:
   heed, take heed, mind, hear

2. listen, hear, take heedverb

   listen and pay attention

   "Listen to your father"; "We must hear the expert before we make a decision"

   Synonyms:
   see, get word, get wind, take heed, get a line, try, find out, discover, hear, pick up, learn, mind, heed

3. heed, mind, listenverb

   pay close attention to; give heed to

   "Heed the advice of the old men"

   Synonyms:
   take heed, take care, hear, beware, bear in mind, mind, heed

Matched Categories

1. • Obey
   • Perceive

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. listenverb

   Synonyms:
   hearken, hark, hear, give ear, lend an ear, incline an ear, prick up the ears, be all ear

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. listenverb

   Synonyms:
   hearken, eavesdrop, auscultate

   Antonyms:
   disregard, ignore, scorn

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "listen":

   look, hear, listening, listens, iisten, heed, -listen

How to pronounce listen?

How to say listen in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use listen in a sentence?

1. Susan Sarandon:

   I got emotional just being with them. It's really fun and they're very well informed ... They're a thinking people, they don't listen to the sound bites.

2. Xavier Carette:

   You know, when you're on a car journey, you can talk about everything and nothing, listen to music, even smoke a joint, but at no time, no, they didn't talk about that.

3. Jhon Jairo Burbano:

   We've learnt how to listen, respect and empathize ... We couldn't remain in different corners because our business has to move in the same direction.

4. Valerie Jarret:

   I had the honor of working with Joe Biden every single day for eight years. And I have an enormous amount of respect for him, but I think he got it right over the weekend when he said it's important that men listen.

5. Proverb:

   When the government has no ears to listen with, then she has no head for governing.