(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ to someone who is talking or to a sound, you give your attention to them or it.
He spent his time ~ing to the radio...
Sonia was not ~ing.
VERB: V to n, V
~er (~ers)
One or two ~ers had fallen asleep while the President was speaking.
N-COUNT
2.
If you ~ for a sound, you keep alert and are ready to hear it if it occurs.
We ~ for footsteps approaching...
They’re both asleep upstairs, but you don’t mind ~ing just in case of trouble, do you?
VERB: V for n, V
•
Listen out means the same as ~ . (BRIT)
I didn’t really ~ out for the lyrics.
PHRASAL VERB: V P for n, also V P
3.
If you ~ to someone, you do what they advise you to do, or you believe them.
Anne, you need to ~ to me this time...
When I asked him to stop, he would not ~.
VERB: V to n, V
4.
You say ~ when you want someone to pay attention to you because you are going to say something important.
Listen, I finish at one.
= look
CONVENTION