Antonyms for listen


Grammar : Verb
Spell : lis-uh n
Phonetic Transcription : ˈlɪs ən


Definition of listen

Origin :
  • Old English hlysnan "to listen," from Proto-Germanic *khlusinon (cf. Dutch luisteren, Old High German hlosen "to listen," German lauschen "to listen"), from PIE root *kleu- "hearing, to hear" (cf. Sanskrit srnoti "hears," srosati "hears, obeys;" Avestan sraothra "ear;" Middle Persian srod "hearing, sound;" Lithuanian klausau "to hear," slove "splendor, honor;" Old Church Slavonic slusati "to hear," slava "fame, glory," slovo "word;" Greek klyo "hear, be called," kleos "report, rumor, fame glory," kleio "make famous;" Latin cluere "to hear oneself called, be spoken of;" Old Irish ro-clui-nethar "hears," clunim "I hear," clu "fame, glory," cluada "ears;" Welsh clywaf "I hear;" Old English hlud "loud," hleoðor "tone, tune;" Old High German hlut "sound;" Gothic hiluþ "listening, attention"). The -t- probably is by influence of Old English hlystan (see list (v.2)). For vowel evolution, see bury. As a noun from 1788 (on the listen "alert").
  • verb hear and pay attention
Example sentences :
  • I confess, Eudora, it pained me to see you listen to his idle flattery.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • He resolved to listen with good grace to any homilies that might issue.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • Listen to the voice that tries to win you back to innocence and truth!
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • It was ingratitude of the blackest character, to listen so coldly to his wishes.
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
  • We do not believe what you have said, and will not listen to you.
  • Extract from : « The Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California » by Brevet Col. J.C. Fremont
  • Many in our country do not know the pain of poverty, but we can listen to those who do.
  • Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
  • "Listen, Dick," said he, using the familiar name for the first time.
  • Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke
  • Listen to me, and I will show you how the song ought to have been sung.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • Her heart began to beat violently, but she stopped to listen.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • While she was ill she had watched the clock for the time to listen for him.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Synonyms for listen

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019