hear
v. · interj.-
1 to perceive sound (v.) A1 Beginnerto notice sounds with your ears.
to perceive sound through the auditory nerves. This sense is typically stative and rarely used in the continuous form.
ExampleI could hear the birds singing outside my window early this morning.
ExampleEven through the thick stone walls of the old library, we could hear the distant rumble of the city traffic during the rush hour.
UsageUsually stative; avoid using in the '-ing' form for physical perception.
PitfallI am hearing a strange noise in the kitchen.I hear a strange noise in the kitchen.As a verb of perception, 'hear' is usually stative. Use the present simple even if the sound is happening right now.
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2 to receive news (v.) A2 Elementaryto get information or news about something or someone.
to receive information or be told about a specific event or situation.
ExampleI was sorry to hear that you have been feeling unwell lately.
ExampleThe board was surprised to hear of the CEO's sudden resignation, as there had been no prior indication of internal conflict.
UsageOften followed by 'that' or 'of/about'.
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3 to be contacted by (v.) B1 Intermediateto receive a letter, phone call, or message from someone.
to receive a communication from a specific person or organisation.
ExampleI haven't heard from my brother in over three weeks.
ExampleThe recruitment agency promised that the candidate would hear from the hiring manager regarding the second interview by the end of the week.
UsageAlmost always used with the preposition 'from'.
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4 legal trial (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Lawto listen to a case in a court of law to make a decision.
to listen to a person or a legal case in a formal judicial setting to determine a verdict.
ExampleThe Supreme Court will hear the case early next year.
ExampleThe judge agreed to hear the witness's testimony in private to protect the identity of the informant during the high-profile trial.
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5 to understand or agree (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informalto understand someone's feelings or agree with what they are saying.
to acknowledge, sympathise with, or grant a request based on an understanding of the speaker's position.
ExampleI hear what you're saying, but I still think we should wait.
ExampleThe manager told the staff that she heard their concerns about the new schedule and would look into making adjustments.
Teacher's tipIn modern informal English, 'I hear you' is a common way to show empathy or agreement without necessarily promising to change anything.
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6 checking for attention (interj.) B1 Intermediate Informal Dialecta way to ask if someone is listening or if they understand you.
used as a tag question to ensure the interlocutor is paying attention or has understood a command.
ExampleYou need to be home by ten o'clock, you hear me?
ExampleDon't you ever go near that old warehouse again, you hear?
UsageUsually placed at the end of a sentence as a rhetorical question.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną Proto-West Germanic *hauʀijan Old English hīeran Middle English heren English hear From Middle English heren, from Old English hīeran (“to hear”), from Proto-West Germanic hauʀijan, from Proto-Germanic hauzijaną (“to hear”), from Proto-Indo-European h₂ḱh₂owsyéti (“to be sharp-eared”), from h₂eḱ- (“sharp”) + h₂ows- (“ear”) + -yéti (denominative suffix). Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian heere (“to hear”), West Frisian hearre (“to hear”), Dutch horen (“to hear”), German hören (“to hear”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål høre (“to hear”), Norwegian Nynorsk høyra (“to hear”), Swedish höra (“to hear”), Icelandic heyra (“to hear”), Ancient Greek ἀκούω (akoúō, “I hear”).