listen

1 /'lIsFn/ verb (I)

1 to pay attention to what someone is saying or to a sound that you can hear: listening to music | Listen! There's a strange noise in the engine.

(+ to): I like listening to the radio. | listen hard (=try to hear something that is very quiet) | listen intently (=very carefully and with interest)

2 spoken used to tell someone to pay attention to what you are about to say: Listen, I'm sure we can work this out, if everybody calms down.

3 to consider carefully what someone says to you: I told him not to go, but he just wouldn't listen.

(+ to): I wish I'd listened to your advice. listen for sb/sth phrasal verb (T) to pay attention so that you are sure you will hear a sound: Listen for the moment when the music changes. listen in phrasal verb (I)

1 to listen to a broadcast on the radio

(+ to): I must remember to listen in to the news at noon. -see also: tune in tune 2

2 to listen to someone's conversation without them knowing it

(+ on): It sounded like someone was listening in on the extension. listen out phrasal verb (I) BrE informal to listen carefully, especially for an unexpected sound: listen out for: Listen out for the baby in case she wakes up. listen up phrasal verb (I) especially AmE spoken used to get people's attention so they can hear what you are going to say: Hey everybody, listen up! USAGE NOTE: LISTEN GRAMMAR Remember you can only listen to (or sometimes for) something: He's listening to music (NOT He's listening music). 2 noun (singular) BrE informal an act of listening: Have a listen to this new album!