hearverb
uk/hɪər/us/hɪr/heard, heardhear verb (RECEIVE SOUND)
A1 [ I or T ] to receive or become conscious of a sound using your ears:
She heard a noise outside.
My grandfather is getting old and can't hear very well.
You'll have to speak up, I can't hear you.
[ + obj + -ing verb ] I heard/I could hear someone calling my name.
[ + obj + infinitive without to ] At eight o'clock Jane heard him go out.
More examples
- Can you hear that strange clicking noise?
- I could hear someone crying in the next room.
- She spoke so quietly that I could barely hear her.
- The human ear cannot hear very high-frequency sounds.
- We heard some shooting in the night.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Using the ears
- audio
- auditory
- be all ears idiom
- catch
- earshot
- eavesdrop
- hark at sb! idiom
- hear sb out
- hearer
- hearken
- lend
- listen
- listen in on sth/sb
- mishear
- overhear
- pin
- pin back your ears idiom
- prick
- prick (sth) up
- read my lips idiom
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hear verb (BE TOLD)
B1 [ I or T ] to be told information about something:
Have you heard the news?
If you haven't heard by Friday, assume I'm not coming.
[ + question word ] Have you heard what's happened?
[ + (that) ] I hear (that) you're leaving.
More examples
- I don't want to hear about it - it's no concern of mine!
- He was sad to hear that two of his trusted workers were leaving.
- I was alarmed to hear that she was coming.
- I was fascinated to hear about his travels in Bhutan.
- I'd be interested to hear more about your work.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Finding and discovering
- a fishing expedition idiom
- alight
- ascertain
- break fresh/new ground idiom
- breakthrough
- catch sb red-handed idiom
- flush
- get hold of idiom
- get wind of sth idiom
- happen
- happen on/upon sth/sb
- have a (good) nose for sth idiom
- rediscover
- root sth/sb out
- rumble
- run sb/sth to ground idiom
- scent
- search
- search sth/sb out
- smell
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hear verb (LISTEN)
A2 [ T ] to listen to someone or something with great attention or officially in court:
I heard a really interesting programme on the radio this morning.
[ + infinitive without to ] I heard the orchestra play at Carnegie Hall last summer.
An audience gathered to hear him speak.
formal Lord, hear our prayers.
The case will be heard (= officially listened to) by the High Court.
More examples
- A crowd had gathered to hear her speak.
- Will you rewind the tape so we can hear it again?
- I heard a good programme on the radio last night.
- Of all the songs I've heard tonight, that's the best yet.
- The priest heard his confession.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Using the ears
- audio
- auditory
- be all ears idiom
- catch
- earshot
- eavesdrop
- hark at sb! idiom
- hear sb out
- hearer
- hearken
- lend
- listen
- listen in on sth/sb
- mishear
- overhear
- pin
- pin back your ears idiom
- prick
- prick (sth) up
- read my lips idiom
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Idiom(s)
can't hear yourself think
do you hear?
hear tell (of)
hear wedding bells
hear, hear!
I must be hearing things
not hear the end/last of sth
will never hear the end of it
won't hear a word (said) against sb/sth
you could have heard a pin drop
Phrasal verb(s)
hear from sb
have heard of sb/sth
not hear of sth
hear sth of sb
hear sb out