- 1
To perceive sounds through the ear.intransitivestative
- I was deaf, but now I can hear.
- 2
To perceive (a sound, or something producing a sound) with the ear, to recognize (something) in an auditory way.stativetransitive
- I could hear them quarreling upstairs, but didn’t really listen to their argument.
- 3
To exercise this faculty intentionally; to listen to.transitive
- Agayne there was dissencion amonge the iewes for these sayinges, and many of them sayd: He hath the devyll, and is madde: why heare ye hym?
- It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless. And results are all that concern me. […]”
- 4
To listen favourably to; to grant (a request etc.).transitive
- Eventually the king chose to hear her entreaties.
- 5
To receive information about; to come to learn of.transitive
- Adam, soon as he heard / The fatal Trespass don by Eve, amaz'd, / Astonied stood and Blank […]
- 6
To be contacted by.
- I haven't heard from you in a while; how have you been?
- 7
To listen to (a person, case) in a court of law; to try.transitive
- Your case will be heard at the end of the month.
- 8
To sympathize with; to understand the feelings or opinion of.informaltransitive
- You're tired of all the ads on TV? I hear ya.
- 9
To study under.Greektransitive
- SPHÆRUS was of Bosphorus, he first heard Zeno, then Cleanthes, and having made a sufficient progresse in learning, went to Alexandria to Ptolomy Philopater […]
- Ammonius, the teacher of both Simplicius and Philoponus, tells us how Julian gave a ruling […] in favor of Maximus, who had heard Iamblichus, and followed him and Porphyry (in An. Pr. 31,15–22).
syn. hear
ant. mishear · cock a deaf 'un · turn a deaf ear