# hear of sb/sth

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hear-of-sb-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to know that someone or something exists because you have been told about them or read about them.

For teachers: to be aware of the existence of a person or thing through external information rather than direct experience.

## Examples

- I have never heard of that brand before.
- Have you heard of the new restaurant that opened downtown last week?
- While many scholars have heard of his early research, few are familiar with the controversial theories he published late in his career.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I never heard from that writer." but "I never heard of that writer." — 'hear from' means to receive a message from someone, while 'hear of' means to know they exist.

## Usage notes

- usually used in the negative or in questions to discuss familiarity.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'hear about' (which implies learning specific details or news) versus 'hear of' (which implies simple awareness of existence).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.