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View synonyms for

hear

[ heer ]

verb (used with object)

heard hearing.
  1. to perceive by the ear:

    Didn't you hear the doorbell?

    Synonyms:

  2. to learn by the ear or by being told; be informed of:

    to hear news.

    Synonyms:

  3. to listen to; give or pay attention to:

    They refused to hear our side of the argument.

  4. to be among the audience at or of (something):

    to hear a recital.

    Synonyms:

  5. to give a formal, official, or judicial hearing to (something); consider officially, as a judge, sovereign, teacher, or assembly:

    to hear a case.

  6. to take or listen to the evidence or testimony of (someone):

    to hear the defendant.

  7. to listen to with favor, assent, or compliance.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  8. (of a computer) to perceive by speech recognition.


verb (used without object)

heard hearing.
  1. to be capable of perceiving sound by the ear; have the faculty of perceiving sound vibrations.
  2. to receive information by the ear or otherwise:

    to hear from a friend.

  3. to listen with favor, assent, or compliance (often followed by of ):

    I will not hear of your going.

  4. (of a computer) to be capable of perceiving by speech recognition.
  5. (used as an interjection in the phrase Hear! Hear! to express approval, as of a speech.)

hear

/ ɪə /

verb

  1. tr to perceive (a sound) with the sense of hearing
  2. tr; may take a clause as object to listen to

    did you hear what I said?

  3. whenintr, sometimes foll by of or about; when tr, may take a clause as object to be informed (of); receive information (about)

    have you heard?

    to hear of his success

  4. law to give a hearing to (a case)
  5. whenintr, usually foll by of and used with a negative to listen (to) with favour, assent, etc

    she wouldn't hear of it

  6. intrfoll byfrom to receive a letter, news, etc (from)
  7. hear! hear!
    an exclamation used to show approval of something said
  8. hear tell dialect.
    to be told (about); learn (of)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ𲹰, adjective
  • ˈ𲹰, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • 𲹰·· adjective
  • 𲹰· noun
  • dzܳ·𲹰 verb (used with object) outheard outhearing
  • ·𲹰 verb reheard rehearing
  • un·𲹰·· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hear1

First recorded before 950; Middle English heren, Old English hēran, hīeran; cognate with Dutch horen, German ö, Old Norse heyra, Gothic hausjan; perhaps akin to Greek ú𾱲 ( acoustic )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hear1

Old English hieran; related to Old Norse heyra, Gothic hausjan, Old High German ō, Greek akouein
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Idioms and Phrases

  • another county heard from
  • hard of hearing
  • never hear the end of
  • not have it (hear of it)
  • unheard of
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Synonym Study

Hear, listen apply to the perception of sound. To hear is to have such perception by means of the auditory sense: to hear distant bells. To listen is to give attention in order to hear and understand the meaning of a sound or sounds: to listen to what is being said; to listen for a well-known footstep.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Celtic fans, we want to hear your views after Rodgers' side wrapped up another league title.

From

The driver exited the vehicle and could be heard remonstrating with the protesters about the road being blocked.

From

Singer Amy Macdonald is approaching two decades in the music industry, but admits the disbelief at hearing her songs played on the radio will never go away.

From

Let’s be truthful here ... any time I hear it’s not the money, of course it’s the money.

From

Most parents have heard at least one untrue statement about measles or the vaccine for it, and many don’t know what to believe, according to an April KFF poll.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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