listen
To use one's sense of hearing and auditory cognition in an intentional way; to make deliberate use of one's ears; to pay attention to or wait for a specific sound.
Verb 2 meanings
To use one's sense of hearing and auditory cognition in an intentional way; to make deliberate use of one's ears; to pay attention to or wait for a specific sound.
“Please listen carefully as I explain.”
To accept advice or obey instruction; to agree or assent.
“Listen, the only reason I yelled at you was because I was upset, OK?”
Noun 1 meaning
An instance of listening.
“Give the motor a listen and tell me if it sounds off.”
Etymology
From Middle English listenen, listnen, alteration (due to Middle English listen (“to listen, give heed to”)) of Old English hlysnan (“to listen”), from Proto-Germanic *hlusnijaną, *hlusnōną (compare Middle High German lüsenen), from Proto-Germanic *hlusēną (compare Old High German hlosēn), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (“to hear”).
Similar and opposite words
LISTEN at a glance
LISTEN has 6 letters and scores 6 points in Scrabble (L 1 + I 1 + S 1 + T 1 + E 1 + N 1) and 8 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #892 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with listen
All rhymes- OFTEN8
- WRITTEN10
- GOTTEN7
- FORGOTTEN13
- BEATEN8
- EATEN5
- THREATEN11
- ROTTEN6
- KINDERGARTEN18
- KITTEN10
- GLUTEN7
- TIGHTEN11
One letter away
- LISTED7
- LISTER6
- LITTEN6
- LISTEL6
- LISTEE6
Keep going
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