heard

heard — verb

1. the past form of 'hear', used when sounds or information reached someone before

1.verbA1
Definition

the past form of 'hear', used when sounds or information reached someone before now

Example

Adina heard a strange noise from the kitchen and went to check.

Have you heard the news about the train strike tomorrow?

present perfect: have + past participle

Common collocations
  • heard about
  • heard from
  • heard of
  • heard clearly
  • heard vaguely
  • heard it said that

Grammar Patterns

heard + noun phrase

heard + that-clause

heard + about/of/from

Usage Note

This entry shows the past tense and past participle of the verb 'hear'. Use the simple past (heard) for actions completed at a definite past time. Use the past participle (also heard) with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had) or in passive constructions (be + heard). See the main entry 'hear' for full definitions.

Common Mistakes

I hear a strange noise last night.
I heard a strange noise last night.
Use 'heard' for actions completed in the past; 'hear' is only for present or habitual actions.
She has heared about the accident.
She has heard about the accident.
'Heard' is an irregular past participle; do not add -ed.

Word family

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • heard it all before
  • heard it through the grapevine

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

'Heard' is an irregular past form of the verb 'hear', which comes from Old English 'hieran' (to hear). The -ed suffix was not added because the vowel change (hear → heard) already signals the past tense, a pattern inherited from Germanic strong-verb inflections.