[V]
1 ~ (to sb/sth) to pay attention to sb/sth that you can hear:
to listen to music / the radio * Listen! What's that noise? Can you hear it? * Sorry, I wasn't really listening. * I listened carefully to her story. * You haven't been listening to a word I've said! * He had been listening at the door.
HELPNOTE You cannot 'listen sth' (without 'to'): I'm fond of listening to classical music. * _I_'_m_ _f_o_n_d_ _o_f_ _l_i_s_t_e_n_i_n_g_ _c_l_a_s_s_i_c_a_l_ _m_u_s_i_c_._
2 ~ (to sb/sth) to take notice of what sb says to you so that you follow their advice or believe them:
None of this would have happened if you'd listened to me. * Why won't you listen to reason?
3 (spoken) used to tell sb to take notice of what you are going to say:
Listen, there's something I have to tell you.
PHRASALVERBS
listen (out) for sth to be prepared to hear a particular sound:
Can you listen out for the doorbell?
listen in (on / to sth)
1 to listen to a conversation that you are not supposed to hear:
You shouldn't listen in on other people's conversations. * They did not know that the police were secretly listening in.
2 to listen to a radio broadcast
listen up (spoken, especially AmE) used to tell people to listen carefully because you are going to say sth important
noun [usuallysing.] an act of listening:
Have a listen to this.
