[intransitive] to pay attention to somebody/something that you can hear. Listen! What's that noise? Can you hear it? Sorry, I wasn't really listening.

1[intransitive] to pay attention to someone or something that you can hear Listen! What's that noise? Can you hear it? Sorry, I wasn't really listening.

​an act of listening. Have a listen to this. Word OriginOld English hlysnan 'pay attention to', of Germanic origin. Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

OED's earliest evidence for listen is from around 1400, in Cleanness. It is also recorded as a verb from the Old English period (pre-1150).

listen in · ​to listen to a conversation that you are not supposed to hear. You shouldn't listen in on other people's conversations. They did not know that the ...

There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb listen, three of which are labelled obsolete. See 'Meaning & use' for definitions, usage, ...

​to be prepared to hear a particular sound. Can you listen out for the doorbell? We listened anxiously for the sound of footsteps. Definitions on the go.

listen for something | listen out for something to be prepared to hear a particular sound Can you listen out for the doorbell?

listen up (especially North American English, informal) used to tell people to listen carefully because you are going to say something important.

Definition of listening post noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, ...