# listen

/ˈɫɪsən/ (US) · /lˈɪsən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/listen
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. to obey or follow advice

verb · CEFR B1

to follow someone's advice or do what they tell you to do.

For teachers: to take notice of and be guided by advice or instructions; to comply with a request.

- You should listen to your doctor and get more sleep.
- If the management had listened to the engineers' warnings earlier, the mechanical failure could have been avoided entirely.

### 3. an act of listening

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

an instance of listening to something, like a song or a podcast.

For teachers: an instance or period of listening to a recording or broadcast.

- That new album is definitely worth a listen.
- The podcast episode is quite long, but it is well worth a listen for anyone interested in local history.

## Examples

- Please listen to the teacher.
- I like to listen to the radio while I cook dinner in the evening.
- To be an effective negotiator, one must listen more than one speaks, paying close attention to the subtle emotional cues hidden within the other person's words.

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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.