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listened - 2 dictionary results

lis⋅ten

  [lis-uhn]
Use listened in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often fol. by to): Children don't always listen to their parents.
3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually fol. by for): to listen for sounds of their return.
4. Informal. to convey a particular impression to the hearer; sound: The new recording doesn't listen as well as the old one.
–verb (used with object)
5. Archaic. to give ear to; hear.
—Verb phrase
6. listen in,
a. to listen to a radio or television broadcast: Listen in tomorrow for the names of the lottery winners.
b. to overhear a conversation or communication, esp. by telephone; eavesdrop: Someone was listening in to his private calls.
Origin:
bef. 950; ME lis(t)nen, OE hlysnan; c. MHG lüsenen, Sw lyssna; akin to list 5

Related forms:
lis⋅ten⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. See hear.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To listened
lis·ten   (lĭs'ən)   
intr.v.   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).
n.  An act of listening: Would you like to give the CD a listen before buying it?
Phrasal Verb(s):
listen in
  1. To listen to a conversation between others; eavesdrop.
  2. To tune in and listen to a broadcast.

[Middle English listenen, alteration (influenced by listen, to list, listen; see list4) of Old English hlysnan; see kleu- in Indo-European roots.]
lis'ten·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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