hear

hear — verb

1. to pick up sounds through your ears — for example, a door closing, someone calli

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA1
Definition

to pick up sounds through your ears — for example, a door closing, someone calling your name, or a bird singing in a tree.

Example

Ada heard a knock at the door while she was cooking dinner.

hear + object + verb-ing with while-clause

Can you hear the baby crying in the next room?

question: Can you hear + object + verb-ing

Common collocations
  • hear + a sound / noise / voice
  • hear + someone + verb-ing
  • can / could hear
  • hard of hearing
  • hear footsteps / music / voices
Synonyms
  • catch

    informal; suggests hearing something briefly or with difficulty, e.g. 'I didn't catch what you said'

  • make out

    suggests straining to hear something unclear or distant

  • perceive

    more formal and general; can apply to any sense, not just hearing

  • overhear

    hearing accidentally something not intended for you

Antonyms
  • miss

    fail to hear, e.g. 'I missed the announcement'

Grammar Patterns

hear + noun phrase

hear + object + verb-ing

hear + object + base verb

can/could hear

Usage Note

This sense describes the physical ability or act of perceiving sound, not the act of choosing to listen. To describe deliberate listening, use 'listen to'.

Common Mistakes

I listened a strange noise coming from the basement.
I heard a strange noise coming from the basement.
'listen' means to pay attention on purpose, while 'hear' means to perceive sound whether you intend to or not.

2. to get news or information from what people say — for example, hearing that a fr

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

to get news or information from what people say — for example, hearing that a friend is getting married, that a storm is coming, or what your test results show.

Example

Kevin heard that the school was closed because of a snowstorm.

hear + that-clause for learning news

Have you heard about the new restaurant that opened on Green Street?

Common collocations
  • hear about
  • hear of
  • hear from
  • hear + that-clause
  • hear + news / report / rumour / story
  • hear it said that
Synonyms
  • learn

    emphasises the knowledge gained rather than the act of being told

  • find out

    suggests discovering information, sometimes through active effort

  • be told

    passive; focuses on the fact that someone passed the information to you

  • get word of

    slightly formal; receiving news indirectly

Grammar Patterns

hear + that-clause

hear about + noun phrase

hear of + noun phrase

hear from + person

Usage Note

'Hear about' is used for events or news ('heard about the accident'). 'Hear of' is used for people, places, or things you learn exist ('never heard of that band'). 'Hear from' means receive a message from someone ('heard from your sister').

Common Mistakes

I heard for the promotion yesterday.
I heard about the promotion yesterday.
use 'about' (not 'for') to refer to news or information you receive.
I heard that new singer. She is very popular.
I heard of that new singer. She is very popular.
use 'hear of' (not 'hear' alone) when you mean you know that someone or something exists.

3. to pay close and serious attention to what someone is saying, especially in a fo

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to pay close and serious attention to what someone is saying, especially in a formal setting such as a court, a committee meeting, or a disciplinary hearing.

Example

The Supreme Court will hear the case next Monday morning.

legal context: hear a case

Chidi listened but the committee refused to hear his objections.

formal register: hear objections

Common collocations
  • hear a case
  • hear testimony
  • hear evidence
  • hear arguments
  • hear both sides
  • hear an appeal
  • hear a petition
Synonyms
  • listen to attentively

    less formal; describes the act of paying close attention in any context

  • give a hearing to

    formal; emphasises that someone is allowed to present their side

  • try

    specifically legal; a court 'tries' a case by hearing all evidence

  • adjudicate

    formal legal term; focuses on the decision-making after hearing

Antonyms
  • ignore

    refusing to pay attention

  • dismiss

    in legal contexts, rejecting a case without a full hearing

Grammar Patterns

hear + noun phrase (a case, testimony, evidence)

passive: opinion / voice is heard

hear + both sides / arguments

Usage Note

In everyday formal contexts, this sense overlaps with 'listen to' but adds emphasis on serious evaluation. In legal contexts, 'hear' is the specific term for a judge or official body considering a case, testimony, or evidence.

Common Mistakes

The judge listened the case for three hours.
The judge heard the case for three hours.
in legal English, 'hear' is used for a judge considering a case; 'listen' is not used transitively this way.
The manager heard to my complaint.
The manager heard my complaint.
in this formal sense, 'hear' is transitive and takes a direct object without 'to'.
Phrasal verbs

hear from

phrasal verb

To receive a message or news from someone.

I hope to hear from my brother soon.

Have you heard from the job interviewer yet?

hear of

phrasal verb

To know about something because someone has told you.

I've never heard of that author before.

Have you heard of the new café on Main Street?

hear out

phrasal verb

To listen to someone until they have finished speaking.

Please hear me out before you make a decision.

The committee agreed to hear out the proposal.

not hear of

phrasal verb

To refuse to accept or allow something.

My mother would not hear of me walking home alone.

He wouldn't hear of paying for the meal.

Idioms

be seeing/hearing things

idiom

To think you see or hear something that is not actually there.

Maya thought she saw a ghost, but she was just seeing things.

Are you hearing things? There's no music playing.

have you heard the one about…?

idiom

Used to ask if someone has already heard a particular joke.

Have you heard the one about the chicken crossing the road?

I asked my dad, "Have you heard the one about the talking dog?"

hear! hear!

idiom

Shouted to show agreement with a speaker, especially during a speech.

When the mayor finished, the crowd shouted "Hear! hear!"

"Hear! hear!" cried the audience after the inspiring speech.

hear/see the last of somebody/something

idiom

To finally stop hearing or seeing someone or something.

I hope we've heard the last of that noisy neighbor.

After the trial, the lawyer saw the last of his client.

hear tell (of something)

idiom

To hear people talking about something.

I've heard tell of a hidden treasure in these woods.

Sara heard tell of a new restaurant opening downtown.

I hear what you're saying

idiom

Used to tell someone you have listened to their opinion, often before giving a different one.

I hear what you're saying, but I still disagree.

"I hear what you're saying," replied the manager, "but we need more evidence."

I’ve heard it all before

idiom

Used to say you do not believe someone's promises or excuses because they are not new.

When he promised to change, she said, "I've heard it all before."

Don't give me that excuse; I've heard it all before.

the last I heard

idiom

Used to give the most recent news you have about someone or something.

The last I heard, Diego was living in Paris.

The last I heard, the project was still on schedule.

let’s hear it for…

idiom

Used to say that someone or something deserves praise.

Let's hear it for the winning team!

Let's hear it for the volunteers who made this event possible.

make your voice heard

idiom

To express your opinions or feelings in a way that gets attention.

Citizens should make their voices heard at town hall meetings.

She made her voice heard by writing letters to the editor.

not/never hear the end of it

idiom

To keep being reminded of something because someone talks about it often.

If we don't buy her that toy, we'll never hear the end of it.

He made one mistake and never heard the end of it from his friends.

you could hear a pin drop

idiom

It was extremely quiet.

When the teacher entered, you could hear a pin drop.

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

(do) you hear (me)?

idiom

Used angrily to tell someone to pay attention and obey.

Clean your room now, do you hear me?

You will not go out tonight, you hear?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

The key difference between 'hear' and 'listen' is intention: 'hear' is passive — sounds reach your ears whether you want them to or not — while 'listen' requires your active attention. You can hear traffic outside without listening to it. 'Overhear' means hearing something by accident that was not directed at you, like overhearing a conversation on the bus. 'Catch' is informal and suggests hearing something briefly or with difficulty ('I didn't catch your name'). 'Make out' implies straining to hear something unclear or distant ('I could just make out what the tour guide was saying'). For example: 'I heard music from the flat upstairs, then I overheard my neighbours arguing, and I could just make out the words'.

hear ↗listen ↗overhear ↗catch ↗make out ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • hear it said that
  • hear things
  • hear tell of
  • never hear the end of it

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'hear' comes from Old English 'hieran' (to hear, perceive, obey), which traces back to Proto-Germanic '*hauzijaną'. This Germanic root has relatives in German 'hören' and Dutch 'horen'. It ultimately comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to be sharp-eared' or 'to perceive sharply', which is also related to Latin 'cavere' (to be on guard) and Greek 'akouein' (to hear).