ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hear from

phrasal verb.
A2 Elementary Oxford General-service
Definition

phrasal verb. to receive a message, letter, or phone call from someone.

phrasal verb. to receive communication from a specific person or entity; typically implies a response or a scheduled update.


SIMPLE

I hope to hear from you soon.

CONTEXTUAL

We haven't heard from the landlord about the broken heater since last Tuesday.

COMPLEX

The committee expects to hear from the legal department before they finalize the merger agreement next month.

  • get a reply
  • be contacted by
  • receive word from
  • be ignored by
Particles
from
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
hear + from + object
Usage

always followed by the person or organization sending the message.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'hear about' (to receive information regarding a topic) to help students distinguish between the source of communication and the subject matter.

Pitfall

I heard from that the party was fun.I heard that the party was fun.use 'hear from' only when naming the person who contacted you; use 'hear that' for general information.

Last updated April 24, 2026