listen
She asked him to listen carefully to her explanation.
She wanted him to focus on understanding what she was saying.
to pay attention to sound; to hear something deliberately
The teacher told the students to listen to the instructions.
The teacher wanted the students to focus on what was being said.
He listened to the radio while driving.
He paid attention to the radio broadcast while driving.
Often used with prepositions like 'to' (listen to) or 'for' (listen for).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Prepositions
'Listen to' is the most common collocation, but 'listen for' is used when waiting for a specific sound.
Gold Rule
Transitive vs. Intransitive
Use 'listen to' for specific sounds or speakers, and 'listen' alone when the focus is on the act of hearing.
Word Origin
Old English 'lystan,' from Proto-Germanic 'lausijaną,' meaning 'to listen, heed.'
Usage Notes
Can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object).