/ hɪə(r); NAmE hɪr/ verb ( heard , heard / hɜːd; NAmE hɜːrd/)
1.
(not used in the progressive tenses) to be aware of sounds with your ears :
[ v ]
I can't hear very well.
[ vn ]
She heard footsteps behind her.
[ vn -ing ]
He could hear a dog barking.
[ vn inf ]
Did you hear him go out?
[ v wh- ]
Didn't you hear what I said?
[ vn to inf ]
She has been heard to make threats to her former lover.
HELP NOTE : This pattern is only used in the passive.
2.
(not used in the progressive tenses) to listen or pay attention to sb/sth :
[ vn ]
Did you hear that play on the radio last night?
[ vn inf ]
Be quiet— I can't hear myself think ! (= it is so noisy that I can't think clearly)
[ v wh- ]
We'd better hear what they have to say.
I hear what you're saying (= I have listened to your opinion) , but you're wrong.
3.
(not usually used in the progressive tenses) hear (about sb/sth) to be told about sth :
[ v ]
Haven't you heard? She resigned.
'I'm getting married.' 'So I've heard.'
Things are going well from what I hear .
I was sorry to hear about your accident.
I've heard about people like you.
[ vn ]
We had heard nothing for weeks.
[ v ( that )]
I was surprised to hear (that) he was married.
I hear you've been away this weekend.
[ vn ( that )]
I've heard it said (that) they met in Italy.
[also v wh- ]
4.
[ vn ] to listen to and judge a case in court :
The appeal was heard in private.
Today the jury began to hear the evidence.
•
IDIOMS
- have you heard the one about ... ?
- hear! hear!
- hear tell (of sth)
- I've heard it all before
- let's hear it for ...
- not / never hear the end of it
- you could hear a pin drop
- (do) you hear me?
—more at last noun , thing , voice noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- hear from sb | hear sth from sb
- hear of sb/sth | hear sth of sb/sth
- not hear of sth
- hear sb out
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hīeran , hēran , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hooren and German hören .