english
1
general::
listen
to pay attention to what someone is saying or to a sound that you hear:
• I didn’t hear the answer, because I wasn’t listening when she read it out. • He listened carefully to every word I said.
pay attention
to listen carefully to what someone is saying:
• I nodded to show I was paying attention. • She was tired and wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying.
eavesdrop
to secretly listen to someone else’s conversation by standing near them, hiding behind a door etc:
• I caught him eavesdropping on our conversation. • They spoke in quiet voices which made it hard to eavesdrop.
overhear
to hear someone say something, especially accidentally:
• I overheard him say something about wanting to move house. • Excuse me! I couldn’t help overhearing that you were planning a trip to Thailand.
tune in (to something)
to listen to a radio programme, or to someone using a radio transmitter:
• Over a million people tune in to the programme each week. • Tune in at the same time next week for the next episode. • The equipment could be used by criminals to tune in to police broadcasts.
tap
to connect a piece of electronic recording equipment to a telephone system so that you can listen to people’s telephone conversations:
• The police had tapped the phones of all three suspects. • The President had to resign over an illegal phone-tapping operation.
bug
to hide a small piece of electronic recording equipment in someone’s room, car, office etc in order to listen secretly to what is said there:
• Security agents bugged their offices and managed to get some evidence against them. • Wells was convinced the house was bugged and insisted on playing loud music while we talked.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
listen out for sth
to make an effort to hear a noise that you are expecting
• Would you listen out for the phone while I'm in the garden?, listen in on sth
If you listen in on a conversation, you listen to it, especially secretly, without saying anything
• I wish Dad would stop listening in on my phone conversations., listen up
mainly US informal
something you say to make people listen to you
• Okay everyone - listen up! I have an announcement to make.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
verb ADV. attentively, carefully, closely, hard, intently Now, listen very carefully to what she says. | half Lucy was only half listening to their conversation. | patiently, politely, sympathetically We listened politely to his stories. | avidly, eagerly, with interest The guests were listening with great interest. | gravely, impassively Pym listened impassively until the woman had finished. | in silence, quietly They listened to the announcement in silence. | anxiously | in awe VERB + LISTEN (not) want to, will/would (not) Nobody will listen to me! I tried to warn her, but she wouldn't listen. | be prepared to, be willing to | refuse to He refused to listen to her explanation. PREP. for We listened anxiously for the sound of footsteps. | to listening to the radio PHRASES listen with half an ear I listened with half an ear to the conversation at the next table.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
verb
heed:
You should listen to your mother.
Simple Definitions