verb
    
    listens; listened; listening
    
    [no obj]
    
    to pay attention to someone or something in order to hear what is being said, sung, played, etc.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    b - used to tell a person to listen to what you are saying
    
    
    
    
    
    to hear what someone has said and understand that it is serious, important, or true
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    listen for
    
    or Brit listen out for [phrasal verb]
    
    listen for (something) or Brit listen out for (something) :to pay attention to sounds in order to hear (something expected)
    
    
    
    
    
    listen in
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    to listen to a radio broadcast
    
    
    
    to listen to a conversation without being part of it
    
    
    
    usually + on
    
    
    
    listen up
    
    [phrasal verb] chiefly US informal :to listen closely to what is being said - usually used as a command
    
    
    
    noun
    
    [singular] :the act of listening to something