# hear of

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hear-of
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 possess knowledge of the existence of a person, place, or thing; often used in the negative or in questions to indicate a lack of familiarity.

## Examples

- I have never heard of that band before.
- Have you heard of the new restaurant that opened on the corner last week?
- While many scholars have heard of his earlier work, few are familiar with the obscure manuscripts he produced during his final years in exile.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I heard of that he is famous." but "I heard that he is famous." — do not use 'of' when introducing a clause starting with 'that'; 'hear of' must be followed by a noun phrase.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a noun or a name; frequently appears in the present perfect tense.
- 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.