Hear Verb - Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation And Usage Notes

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Definition of hear verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hear verb   /hɪə(r)/  /hɪr/Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they hear	/hɪə(r)/  /hɪr/
he / she / it hears	/hɪəz/  /hɪrz/
past simple heard	/hɜːd/  /hɜːrd/
past participle heard	/hɜːd/  /hɜːrd/
-ing form hearing	/ˈhɪərɪŋ/  /ˈhɪrɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs jump to other results

1.   [intransitive, transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be aware of sounds with your ears
   • I can't hear very well.
   • hear something/somebody He heard a noise and went to investigate.
   • She could hear voices in the kitchen.
   • I could hear the sound of traffic in the background.
   • She heard footsteps behind her.
   • I couldn’t hear anything.
   • to hear a scream/a cry/a shot/an explosion
   • hear somebody/something doing something He could hear a dog barking.
   • hear somebody/something do something Did you hear him go out?
   • I heard a car drive off.
   • hear what… Didn't you hear what I said?
   • somebody/something is heard to do something She has been heard to make threats to her former lover.
   Homophones hear | herehear   here  /hɪə(r)/  /hɪr/
   • hear verb
     • I can't hear you—the signal is very bad.
   • here adverb
     • We don't need to move—we can see it all from here!
   • here exclamation
     • Here, let me give you a hand with that.
   Extra Examples
   • ‘Sheep?’ It sounded so unlikely that Sally did not think she could have heard correctly.
   • Can you hear me clearly at the back?
   • Distantly he heard the report of another gun.
   • I could just hear the music in the distance.
   • You'd better not let Dad hear you say that.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
   • clearly
   • well
   • barely
   • …
   verb + hear
   • can
   • pretend not to
   • strain to
   • …
   See full entry

   Definitions on the go

   Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

   
2.   [transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to listen or pay attention to somebody/something
   • hear something Did you hear that play on the radio last night?
   • He knows that the crowd wants to hear those songs.
   • Langgard's music is rarely heard outside Denmark.
   • to hear both sides of the argument
   • hear somebody/something/yourself do something Be quiet—I can't hear myself think! (= it is so noisy that I can't think clearly)
   • Have you ever heard him lecture?
   • hear what… We'd better hear what they have to say.
   Extra Examples
   • Let's hear you sing, then.
   • a chance to hear the first movement again
   • Election events offer voters a chance to hear the candidates speak.
3.   [intransitive, transitive] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be told about something
   • Haven't you heard? She resigned.
   • ‘I'm getting married.’ ‘So I've heard.’
   • Things are going well from what I hear.
   • hear about somebody/something I was sorry to hear about your accident.
   • Come on! I want to hear all about it.
   • Wait till he hears about this.
   • I've heard about people like you.
   • hear something We had heard nothing for weeks.
   • to hear a story/rumour/report
   • When I heard the news, I was devastated.
   • I was delighted to hear your good news.
   • hear (that)… I was surprised to hear (that) he was married.
   • I hear you've been away this weekend.
   • hear it said (that)… I’ve heard it said (that) they met in Italy.
   • hear what, how, etc… Did you hear what happened?
   • We are waiting to hear what the lawyers have to say.
   Extra Examples
   • We are hearing talk of civil war.
   • I told Michael what he wanted to hear.
   • I was delighted to hear about your promotion.
   • I've heard about this sort of thing before.
   • We hear very little about these issues nowadays.
   Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + hear
   • be delighted to
   • be glad to
   • be gratified to
   • …
   preposition
   • about
   • of
   phrases
   • hear little, a lot, nothing, etc. about something
   See full entry
4. [transitive] hear something to listen to and judge a case in court
   • The appeal was heard in private.
   • Today the jury began to hear the evidence.
   Topics Law and justicec1
Word OriginOld English hīeran, hēran, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hooren and German hören.

Idioms be seeing/hearing things

1. (informal, humorous) to imagine that you can see or hear something that is in fact not there

have you heard the one about…?

1. used to ask somebody if they have heard a particular joke before

hear! hear!

1. used to show that you agree with or approve of what somebody has just said, especially during a speechTopics Opinion and argumentc2

hear/see the last of somebody/something

1. to hear/see somebody/something for the last time
   • That was the last I ever saw of her.
   • Unfortunately, I don't think we've heard the last of this affair.

hear tell (of something)

1. (old-fashioned or formal) to hear people talking about something
   • I've often heard tell of such things.

I hear what you're saying

1. used to tell somebody that you have listened to their opinion, especially when you are going to express a different opinion
   • I hear what you're saying, but you're wrong.

I’ve heard it all before

1. (informal) used to say that you do not really believe somebody’s promises or excuses because they are the same ones you have heard before

the last I heard

1. used to give the most recent news you have about somebody/something
   • The last I heard he was still working at the garage.

let’s hear it for…

1. (informal) used to say that somebody/something deserves praise
   • Let's hear it for the teachers, for a change.

make your voice heard

1. to express your feelings, opinions, etc. in a way that makes people notice and consider them
   • The programme gives ordinary viewers a chance to make their voices heard.
   • a society in which individuals are able to make their voices heard
   Topics Opinion and argumentc2

not/never hear the end of it

1. to keep being reminded of something because somebody is always talking to you about it
   • If we don't get her a dog we'll never hear the end of it.

you could hear a pin drop

1. it was extremely quiet
   • The audience was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

(do) you hear (me)?

1. (informal) used to tell somebody in an angry way to pay attention and obey you
   • You can't go—do you hear me?

Phrasal Verbs

• hear from
• hear of
• hear out
• not hear of

See hear in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee hear in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation: hear

Other results

All matches

• hear of
• hear out
• hear from
• not hear of
• hear somebody out
• not hear of something
• hear from somebody | hear something from somebody
• hear of somebody/something | hear something of somebody/something
• you could hear a pin drop
• not say, hear, etc. a dicky bird
• not/never hear the end of it

See more Phrasal verbs

• hear somebody out
• not hear of something
• hear from somebody | hear something from somebody
• hear of somebody/something | hear something of somebody/something

Idioms

• you could hear a pin drop
• not say, hear, etc. a dicky bird
• not/never hear the end of it

Nearby words

• heap verb
• heaped adjective
• hear verb
• hearer noun
• hear from phrasal verb

crop noun From the Topic Farming B2 Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day