Definition of 'hear'

Word Frequency

hear

(hɪər )

Word forms: hears, hearing, heard (hɜrd )

1. transitive verb/intransitive verb

When you hear a sound, you become aware of it through your ears.

She heard no further sounds.

They heard the protesters shout: "No more fascism!"

He doesn't hear very well.

Synonyms: overhear, catch, detect More Synonyms of hear

2. transitive verb

If you hear something such as a lecture or a piece of music, you listen to it.

You can hear commentary on the game at halftime.

I don't think you've ever heard Doris talking about her emotional life before.

Synonyms: listen to, heed, attend to, eavesdrop on More Synonyms of hear

3. transitive verb

When a judge or a court of law hears a case, or evidence in a case, they listen to it officially in order to make a decision about it.

[formal]

The jury has heard evidence from defense witnesses.

Synonyms: try, judge, examine, investigate More Synonyms of hear

4. intransitive verb

If you hear from someone, you receive a letter or telephone call from them.

Drop us a line, it's always great to hear from you.

5. transitive verb/intransitive verb

If you hear some news or information about something, you find out about it by someone telling you, or from the radio or television.

My mother heard of this school through Leslie.

He had heard that the trophy had been sold.

Synonyms: learn, discover, find out, understand More Synonyms of hear

6. intransitive verb [no cont]

If you have heard of something or someone, you know about them, but not in great detail.

Many people haven't heard of reflexology.

See have heard sth before

See you can't hear yourself think

See won't/wouldn't hear of sth

10. debate and conversation

Video: pronunciation of
hear

hear in American English

(hɪr )

verb transitiveWord forms: heard (hɜrd ) or ˈhearing

to perceive or sense (sounds), esp. through stimulation of auditory nerves in the ear by sound waves

to listen to and consider

; specif.,

to take notice of; pay attention to

hear what I tell you

to listen to officially; give a formal hearing to

to hear a child's lessons

to conduct an examination or hearing of (a law case, etc.); try

to consent to; grant

hear my plea

to understand

I hear you

to be a member of the audience at (an opera, lecture, etc.)

to be informed of; be told; learn

to hear a rumor

verb intransitive

to have a normally functioning ear or ears; be able to hear sounds

to listen

to be told or informed (of or about)

Idioms:

Derived forms

hearer (ˈhearer)

noun

Word origin

ME heren < OE hieran, akin to Ger hören (Goth hausjan) < IE base *keu-, to notice, observe > L cavere, be on one's guard, Gr koein, to perceive, hear

Word Frequency

hear in British English

(hɪə )

verbWord forms: hears, hearing or heard (hɜːd )

1. (transitive)

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. (when intr, sometimes foll by of or about; when tr, may take a clause as object)

to be informed (of); receive information (about)

to hear of his success

have you heard?

4. law

to give a hearing to (a case)

5. (when intr, usually foll by of and used with a negative)

to listen (to) with favour, assent, etc

she wouldn't hear of it

6. (intransitive; foll by from)

to receive a letter, news, etc (from)

7. hear! hear!

8. hear tell

Derived forms

hearable (ˈhearable)

adjective

hearer (ˈhearer)

noun

Word origin

Old English hieran; related to Old Norse heyra, Gothic hausjan, Old High German hōren, Greek akouein

Examples of 'hear' in a sentence
hear

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They are waiting to hear about whether they qualify.You hear people talking about it for days leading up to the game.The appeal hearing could be heard in summer or autumn next year.She thought others on the beach would have heard screaming if something truly awful had happened.The next scene is in training and we hear him talking about the pressure.The elite refuses to see and hear what the people want.The panel hearing the misconduct case have been told to strike any allegation that she acted with dishonesty.So talk, but listen to hear rather than listen to answer.She wanted to resume her studies but specialists expressed concerns, the Gloucester hearing heard.You may think this is the first time you have heard of this case.