listen — to pay attention to sounds or to give attention to what someone is saying
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to pay attention to sounds or to give attention to what someone is saying
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈlɪsən/
Example Sentences
- My mom told me to listen, but I was too busy listening to my stomach growl.
- I listen to podcasts while walking to school.
- Listen! Do you hear that strange noise?
listen
VERB[/ˈlɪsən/]
to pay attention to sounds or to give attention to what someone is saying
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Listen derives from Old English 'hlysnan', meaning 'to incline the ear' or 'to pay attention'. The word originates from Germanic roots shared across the Germanic language family, reflecting the fundamental concept of auditory perception and attention.
Breakdown
Old English 'hlysnan' evolved through sound changes in Middle English, where the initial 'hl-' cluster simplified to 'l-', resulting in the modern form 'listen'. The suffix '-en' indicates the infinitive or base verb form.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom told me to listen, but I was too busy listening to my stomach growl.”
“I listen to podcasts while walking to school.”
“Listen! Do you hear that strange noise?”
“He pretended to listen while secretly planning his lunch menu.”
📚Related Words
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